What you will see
Pale winding tunnels in leaves.
How to protect
- Prevention
- Remove affected leaves promptly.
- By hand when tunnels appearRemove affected leaves; cut the plant back after flowering.
AI gardenerAdvises from our plant pages
You are asking about: Greater masterwort
Hello! I can help with where to plant it, when to prune it and what to pair it with. I advise from our plant pages.
Checking whether the gardener is switched on…Credit prices
Perennial · Apiaceae family
Greater masterwort
Astrantia major
Full sun to part shade 1 ft 11⅝ in–2 ft 11⅜ in × 11¾ in–1 ft 5¾ in Flowers June–July to −90 °F
Flower colors Click a color
In short a 10-second read
SunFull sun to part shade
Size1 ft 11⅝ in–2 ft 11⅜ in
spacing 15¾ in
spacing 15¾ in
FlowersJune–July
PlantingMarch–May, September–November
WinterNo winter protection
Where to plant and how much to water
Sun, soil and water.
It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average to moist soil.
Sun
Sun6 hours or more
Part shade3–6 hours
Shadeunder 3 h
Soil
acidic to neutral soil
acidicneutralalkaline
Watering
Frost
−90 °F
How much space it takes
Mature size.
The mature plant next to a person (69 in).
1 ft 11⅝ in–2 ft 11⅜ in× spread 11¾ in–1 ft 5¾ in
Plant 15¾ in apart.
Reaches maturity in about 2–5 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.
Calendar
Through the year.
Typical for a temperate climate (four seasons). The line shows the current month.
The year at a glance
FlowersPlantingFeeding
Now, in October: a good time for planting (container plant).
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Flowers
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
June–July · white, pink or red
Planting
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
container plant: March–May, September–November
Feeding
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
March–May
Feeding
Nutrition.
Light
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Pests and diseases
Common problems and what to do.
The most common problems in Central Europe. Protection is listed from the gentlest option.
Leaf minerspest
What you will see
Pale winding tunnels in leaves.
How to protect
- Prevention
- Remove affected leaves promptly.
- By hand when tunnels appearRemove affected leaves; cut the plant back after flowering.
What you will see
Holes in leaves and shiny trails, especially on young shoots in spring.
How to protect
- Prevention
- Water in the morning so the plant dries off by evening.
- Watch and protect young shoots in spring.
- Encourage natural enemies (birds, toads, hedgehogs).
- By hand damp, mild evenings from spring to fallCollect slugs and snails in the evening by torchlight; traps made of half an orange or containers of beer.
- Biological warm, moist soil, spring to early fallPhasmarhabditis hermaphrodita nematodes watered into the soil (effective against slugs, less so against snails).
What you will see
Holes in leaves and shiny trails, especially on young shoots in spring.
How to protect
- Prevention
- Water in the morning so the plant dries off by evening.
- Watch and protect young shoots in spring.
- Encourage natural enemies (birds, toads, hedgehogs).
- By hand damp, mild evenings from spring to fallCollect slugs and snails in the evening by torchlight; traps made of half an orange or containers of beer.
- Biological warm, moist soil, spring to early fallPhasmarhabditis hermaphrodita nematodes watered into the soil (effective against slugs, less so against snails).
What you will see
Colonies of tiny insects on shoots and buds, sticky honeydew, curled leaves.
When to look
Spring and summerHow to protect
- Prevention
- Check plants regularly from spring.
- Encourage ladybirds, hoverflies, lacewings and parasitic wasps.
- By hand as soon as it appearsRub off colonies by hand or wash them off with a jet of water.
- Biological spring to summerRelease lacewing larvae, aphid midge larvae or ladybirds.
- Gentle spray in a heavy infestation, repeatPotassium soap (fatty acids) or plant oil.
- Chemical — only when nothing else helps only as a last resortA product authorized in your country against aphids.
What you will see
Colonies of tiny insects on shoots and buds, sticky honeydew, curled leaves.
When to look
Spring and summerHow to protect
- Prevention
- Check plants regularly from spring.
- Encourage ladybirds, hoverflies, lacewings and parasitic wasps.
- By hand as soon as it appearsRub off colonies by hand or wash them off with a jet of water.
- Biological spring to summerRelease lacewing larvae, aphid midge larvae or ladybirds.
- Gentle spray in a heavy infestation, repeatPotassium soap (fatty acids) or plant oil.
- Chemical — only when nothing else helps only as a last resortA product authorized in your country against aphids.
What you will see
White powdery coating on leaves and stems; leaves curl and dry out.
When to look
From spring onwardsHow to protect
- Prevention
- Sunny, airy position; not in a still spot against a wall.
- Do not overdo nitrogen (lush young leaves are more susceptible).
- Water at the roots, not on the leaves.
- By hand as soon as the first symptoms appearQuickly cut out affected shoots and burn them or take them away (not to the compost).
- Gentle spray at the start of infectionSulphur or fatty acids (potassium soap) according to the label.
- Chemical — only when nothing else helps only in a heavy attackA product authorized in your country against powdery mildew.
What you will see
White powdery coating on leaves and stems; leaves curl and dry out.
When to look
From spring onwardsHow to protect
- Prevention
- Sunny, airy position; not in a still spot against a wall.
- Do not overdo nitrogen (lush young leaves are more susceptible).
- Water at the roots, not on the leaves.
- By hand as soon as the first symptoms appearQuickly cut out affected shoots and burn them or take them away (not to the compost).
- Gentle spray at the start of infectionSulphur or fatty acids (potassium soap) according to the label.
- Chemical — only when nothing else helps only in a heavy attackA product authorized in your country against powdery mildew.
Sources (5)
- rhs.org.uk 2 3 4 5
What to combine it with
Same needs, different flowering.
They share the same sun and soil and flower in other months — so the bed flowers for longer.
showy stonecrop
11¾ in–1 ft 7⅝ in✓flowers August–October
✓lower — for the front
common sneezeweed
2 ft 11⅜ in–4 ft 11 in✓flowers August–October
✓taller — for the back
wild daffodil
11¾ in–1 ft 6⅛ in✓flowers March–April
✓lower — for the front
Ready-made Studio combinations with this plant
Click a combination — the Studio opens a new raised garden bed with it already planted.
Frequently asked
Quick answers.
When does greater masterwort flower?
In June–July; the flowers are white, pink or red.
Does greater masterwort tolerate shade?
It tolerates part shade (3–6 hours of sun), but not full shade.
How much space does greater masterwort need?
At maturity 11¾ in–1 ft 5¾ in wide and 1 ft 11⅝ in–2 ft 11⅜ in tall; recommended spacing 15¾ in.
Leaf miners — what can you do?
Remove affected leaves promptly. Remove affected leaves; cut the plant back after flowering.
Slugs and snails — what can you do?
Water in the morning so the plant dries off by evening. Collect slugs and snails in the evening by torchlight; traps made of half an orange or containers of beer.
Sources (14) Checked 28 September 2026
- missouribotanicalgarden.org
- api.gbif.org 2
- bamberger-staudengarten-shop.de
- gaertnerei-strickler.de
- rhs.org.uk 2
- yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu
- Invasive plant lists — this species is not on them: EU, Slovakia, Czechia, Germany, Poland, Denmark
Similar plants
Have a look at these too.
European columbine
Aquilegia vulgaris
1 ft 5¾ in–2 ft 11⅜ in × 11¾ in–1 ft 11⅝ in
Moderate careperennial
threadleaf coreopsis
Coreopsis verticillata
1 ft 11⅝ in–2 ft 11⅜ in × 1 ft 3¾ in–1 ft 11⅝ in
Low maintenanceperennial
Uses
In the garden and at home.
Pollinators
many