Plant Database

Other Names:  Hattie's Pincushion

Description:

A lovely selection that produces tall stems of white, pincushion flowers; upright selection featuring dark green, ferny foliage during the summer months; self-seeding, requiring some maintenance and pruning in the fall

Ornamental Features

Great Masterwort features delicate cymes of white pincushion flowers with purple anthers at the ends of the stems from early to late summer. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its deeply cut ferny palmate leaves remain dark green in colour throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Great 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 plant 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

Great Masterwort is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use
• Bog Gardens

Planting & Growing

Great Masterwort will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity extending to 3 feet tall with the flowers, with a spread of 24 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 18 inches apart. It tends to be leggy, with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and should be underplanted with lower-growing perennials. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 15 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant 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 species is not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division.