Astrantia is a genus of herbaceous plants in the family Apiaceae, native to Central, Eastern and Southern Europe and the Caucasus.

The genus name derived from the Latin 'aster' meaning star and this refers to the open star-shaped floral bracts of the plant.

[3] The astrantia has many common garden names including melancholy gentleman, masterwort and Hattie's pincushion.

The dried leaves of the plant can be used in herbal medicines as an infusion to help with digestion and help stimulate appetite.

Their unusual pincushion flowerheads provide summer colour in shades of red, pink and white.