Venice Masterwort (Astrantia major 'Venice')
ah-STRAN-tee-ah MAY-jor 'Venice'

Deciduous Perennial Upright, Clump-Forming in the Apiaceae Family
A deep-red-flowered masterwort with finely cut green foliage, its pincushion blooms ringed in showy reddish-purple bracts — excellent for cutting and drying, and reliably deer resistant.
Venice is a striking red-flowered selection of Astrantia major, bred by Hubertus Oudshoorn in Rijpwetering, the Netherlands, and patented in 2008 (US Plant Patent PP18,420). Deeply cut, dark green leaves form a tidy clump-forming mound, from which wiry stems lift pincushion-form flowerheads from June into July — tiny ruby-red true flowers held within a showy ring of reddish-purple, papery bracts. The deep, saturated flower color sets it apart from the softer pinks and whites typical of the genus, and the sturdy stems hold up well both in the garden and as a cut flower.

Pros

  • Rich ruby-red flowers with reddish-purple bracts stand out among typically pastel Astrantia cultivars
  • Long-lasting as both a fresh and dried cut flower
  • Deer and rabbit resistant, attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators
  • Tolerates full sun with consistent moisture

Cons

  • Deadheading needed to prevent excessive self-seeding
  • Foliage and flower color both fade if soil dries out
  • Slugs occasionally visit young growth in damp conditions
Highlights Deep ruby-red pincushion flowers with reddish-purple bracts from June to July; finely cut dark green foliage; excellent as a fresh or dried cut flower; deer resistant and full-sun tolerant with steady moisture. US Plant Patent PP18,420.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 20 - 23 inches tall. 14 - 16 inches wide.
Growth Rate Medium
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium - Wet: Needs consistently moist soil for best flowering and foliage color and does not tolerate drought; also tolerates periodically wet sites, making it a good choice for the moist margins of a rain garden.
Zones 4a - 8b (Usually hardy to -30° F)
Tags Attracts Bees, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Pollinators, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, For a Shady Spot, Full Sun, Good for Borders, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Cut Flowers, Good for Dried Flowers, Medium, Non-Allergenic, Normal Soil, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Rabbit Resistant, Shade Tolerant, Showy Flowers, Tolerant of Clay Soil, Tolerant of Loamy Soil, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Well-Drained Soil, Wet, Wet Site Tolerant, Woodland Garden
Bloom Period June to July
Flower Color Ruby Red With Reddish-Purple Bracts
Foliage Color Green
 

More Info from Experts
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2024 : 05/30 - 10/05
2023 : 04/13 - 08/05

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

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