A Fabulous Plant Combination for Moist Soils and Shady Gardens

Perennial Combinations, Plant Combinations, Flowerbeds Ideas, Summer Borders

Garden Ideas, Border ideas, Perennial Planting, Perennial combination, Summer Borders, Astrantia Roma, Great Masterwort, Masterwort Roma, Astrantia Major, Siverian Iris, Iris Sibirica, Carex Elata aurea, Bowles Golden sedge, Plant combinations for wet soi

Brighten a moist and shady area of your garden with this striking plant combination pairing the remarkable flower plumes of Astilbes with the intriguing blossoms of Great masterwort (Astrantia major), the colorful umbels of Yarrow (Achillea), the fragrant golden blooms of Giant Cowslip (Primula florindae) and the purple vertical flower spikes of Big Betony (Stachys macrantha). An easy and remarkable late spring – early summer border to enjoy!

Most plants are low maintenance, trouble-free and ignored by deer and rabbits!

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Garden Information

Hardiness	4 - 8
Heat Zones	7
Climate Zones	4, 5, 6, 14, 15, 16, 17
Exposure	Partial Sun
Season of Interest	Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Maintenance	Low
Water Needs	Average
Soil Type	Loam
Soil pH	Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage	Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics	Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Plant of Merit, Showy
Tolerance	Deer
Attracts	Butterflies
Landscaping Ideas	Beds And Borders, Ponds And Streams
Garden Styles	Informal and Cottage

Plants In This Garden

Primula florindae (Giant Cowslip)

One of the largest and most fragrant of the primula species, award-winning Primula florindae (Giant Cowslip) is a long-lived perennial favored by many gardeners with damp and partially shaded gardens

Hardiness	3 - 9
Plant type	Perennials
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Height	3' - 4' (90cm - 120cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Soil Type	Loam
Soil Ph	Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage	Moist but Well-Drained, Moisture Retentive
Characteristics	Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy
Tolerance	Deer, Rabbit

Stachys macrantha 'Superba' (Big Betony)

Noted for the spectacular display provided by its vivid flowers, Big Betony ‘Superba’ (Stachys macrantha) is a wonderful perennial featuring 2-3 whorls of vibrant, violet-purple, two-lipped flower spikes held above handsome mounds of soft, wrinkled, dark green leaves with scalloped edges. They bloom for a few weeks from late spring to mid-summer and always create an incredible show when massed!

Hardiness	4 - 8
Plant type	Perennials
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Spring (Late), Summer (Early, Mid)
Height	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Soil Type	Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil Ph	Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage	Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics	Cut Flowers, Plant of Merit, Showy
Tolerance	Drought, Deer

Astrantia major 'Roma' (Great Masterwort)

So exquisite and delicate, Astrantia major ‘Roma’ never fails to amaze onlookers! How to resist the intricate beauty of its blossoms: tiny pink flowers crowded together in a dome-shaped flowerhead, just like pins on a cushion, and surrounded by an elegant ruff of papery bracts.

Hardiness	4 - 7
Plant type	Perennials
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Spring (Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Height	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Soil Type	Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Ph	Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage	Moist but Well-Drained, Poorly Drained
Characteristics	Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Plant of Merit, Showy
Tolerance	Deer, Wet Soil
Attracts	Butterflies

Astilbe 'Snowdrift' (Arendsii Hybrid)

Admired for its graceful, pure white flower plumes rising elegantly above fern-like mounds of deeply-cut foliage, Astilbe ‘Snowdrift’ (Astilbe x arendsii) is a superb cultivar that brightens up any shady areas of the garden. Each plume consists of hundreds of densely packed tiny flowers, each opening in succession, providing a long season of bloom in early to mid-summer.

Hardiness	4 - 9
Plant type	Perennials
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun, Shade
Seasons	Summer (Early, Mid)
Height	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Soil Type	Loam
Soil Ph	Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage	Moist but Well-Drained, Poorly Drained
Characteristics	Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Showy
Tolerance	Full Shade, Deer, Rabbit, Wet Soil
Attracts	Butterflies, Bees

Astilbe 'Hyacinth' (Arendsii Hybrid)

A popular Astilbe variety with sturdy stems and abundant flowers, Astilbe ‘Hyacinth’ or ‘Hyazinth’ (Astilbe x arendsii) features graceful, lavender-pink flower plumes rising elegantly above fern-like mounds of deep green foliage

Hardiness	4 - 9
Plant type	Perennials
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun, Shade
Seasons	Summer (Mid, Late)
Height	2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Soil Type	Loam
Soil Ph	Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage	Moist but Well-Drained, Poorly Drained
Characteristics	Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Showy
Tolerance	Full Shade, Deer, Rabbit, Wet Soil
Attracts	Butterflies, Bees

Achillea millefolium 'Summer Pastels' (Yarrow)

With a soft palette of pastel-colored flowers, Achillea millefolium ‘Summer Pastels’ is a stunning Yarrow with masses of long-lasting flower clusters, up to 8 in. wide (20 cm), in glorious shades of red, pink, yellow, orange, salmon, lilac, purple and white.

Hardiness	3 - 9
Plant type	Perennials
Exposure	Full Sun
Seasons	Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Height	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Soil Type	Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil Ph	Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage	Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics	Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy
Tolerance	Drought, Deer, Rabbit, Dry Soil
Attracts	Bees, Butterflies

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Astrantia Achillea (Yarrow) Stachys Primula (Primrose) Astilbe

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Alternative Plants to Consider

Primula x bulleesiana (Candelabra Primrose)

Primula bulleyana (Candelabra Primrose)

Primula beesiana (Candelabra Primrose)

Trollius x cultorum ‘Superbus’ (Globe Flower)

Astilbe ‘Bridal Veil’ (Arendsii Hybrid)

Astilbe ‘Europa’ (Japonica Hybrid)

Learn About These Genera

Achillea (Yarrow)

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.