Claret Masterwort

Other Names: Hattie's Pincushion

Description:

Beautiful wine-red pincushion flowers on nearly-black stems; great on streambanks or in a moist border, doesn't like to dry out; cut back after flowering for a second flush

Ornamental Features:

Claret Masterwort features airy cymes of red pincushion flowers with dark red bracts rising above the foliage from early to late summer. The flowers are excellent for cutting. It's crinkled ferny pinnately compound leaves remain dark green in colour throughout the season. The fruit is not ornamentally significant. The black stems are very effective and add winter interest.

Landscape Attributes:

Claret Masterwort is an open herbaceous perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This perennial will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should be cut back in late fall in preparation for winter. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Self-Seeding

Claret Masterwort is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• General Garden Use
• Mass Planting
• Bog Gardens

Plant Characteristics:

Claret Masterwort will grow to be about 18 inches tall at maturity extending to 24 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 18 inches. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 15 years.

This perennial does best in full sun to partial shade. It is quite adaptable, prefering to grow in average to wet conditions, and will even tolerate some standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This plant can be propagated by division.

This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.