5 Best and 4 Bad Astrantia Companion Plants

Today, we’re diving into the world of astrantia, a charming perennial known for its starry flowers and attractive foliage. This guide will explore 6 best astrantia companion plants that thrive alongside astrantia and 4 plants to avoid, ensuring your garden remains a vibrant and harmonious space.

Astrantia’s Best Companion Plants

Geraniums

Geraniums, with their bold blooms and aromatic leaves, are excellent neighbors for astrantia. They bring essential benefits such as attracting pollinators and repelling unwanted pests, thanks to their scent. Pairing geraniums with astrantia adds a layered texture and a riot of color to your garden beds.

• How to plant:
  1. Select a location that receives morning sunlight and afternoon shade.
  2. Prepare the soil by incorporating organic matter to improve drainage.
  3. Plant geraniums 15 inches apart from astrantia to ensure each has enough room to grow.
  4. Water consistently, allowing the soil to dry slightly between watering.

Enhance your garden’s aesthetics and health by pairing geraniums with astrantia. Learn more about geranium companion planting here.

Lavender

Lavender (Lavandula) is not only cherished for its fragrance and beauty but also acts as a powerful ally for astrantia. It helps in deterring deer and rabbits, which might find astrantia an attractive nibble. Integrating lavender with astrantia brings a sense of calm to your garden, with lavender’s aroma complementing the subtle beauty of astrantia flowers.

• Planting guide:
  1. Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil.
  2. Space lavender plants about 18 inches from astrantia to allow for air circulation and growth.
  3. Water deeply but infrequently, as lavender thrives in dryer conditions.

Incorporate lavender into your garden for a blend of tranquility and pest resistance. Discover more about lavender as a companion plant here.

Foxgloves

Foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea) offer vertical interest and a dramatic backdrop to the delicate astrantia. They attract bees, enhancing pollination for all garden plants. Their tall, bell-shaped flowers provide a striking contrast to astrantia, creating a captivating visual hierarchy in your garden.

• How to grow together:
  1. Plant foxgloves in partial shade, where astrantia also flourishes.
  2. Ensure the soil is rich and well-draining.
  3. Space foxgloves at least 24 inches from astrantia to prevent crowding.
  4. Keep the soil moist, especially during dry periods.

Ferns

Ferns add a lush, green backdrop to the astrantia’s delicate blooms, offering a contrast in texture and form. They thrive in the same shaded conditions as astrantia, making them ideal companions. Ferns provide a cool, moist environment, benefiting astrantia during hot summers.

• Planting tips:
  1. Select a shady area with moist, well-drained soil.
  2. Plant ferns approximately 20 inches away from astrantia to give each plant space to spread.
  3. Water regularly, ensuring the soil remains consistently moist.

Nasturtiums

Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus) are not only edible but also excellent companions for astrantia. Their peppery leaves and vibrant flowers add a splash of color, while their ability to repel pests like aphids and whiteflies makes them invaluable. Why pair them with astrantia? Their contrasting colors and mutual benefits in pest deterrence create a visually appealing and healthy garden environment.

• Planting together:
  1. Choose a site with full sun to partial shade.
  2. Ensure well-draining soil, mixing in compost for fertility.
  3. Plant nasturtium seeds directly around astrantia, keeping a distance of about 12 inches to allow for spreading.
  4. Water regularly, keeping the soil moist but not waterlogged.

For a garden filled with vibrant colors and natural pest control, consider planting nasturtiums and astrantia together. Dive deeper into the benefits of nasturtium as a companion plant here.

Astrantia’s Plants to Avoid

Walnut Trees

Walnut trees (Juglans spp.) produce juglone, a compound toxic to many plants, including astrantia. Their extensive root system also competes aggressively for water and nutrients, making them unsuitable companions for the more delicate astrantia.

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus trees are known for their high water consumption and allelopathic properties, which can inhibit the growth of nearby plants like astrantia. Their shading can also be too dense, depriving astrantia of necessary sunlight.

Bamboo

Bamboo can be invasive, with a vigorous root system that overwhelms the space and resources needed by astrantia. Its rapid growth can quickly overshadow and outcompete astrantia, leading to poor growth or even the demise of your astrantia plants.

Mint

While mint is beneficial in many garden settings, its aggressive spreading nature makes it a poor companion for astrantia. Mint can quickly overtake a garden bed, leaving little room for astrantia to flourish.

Astrantia Companion Planting Chart

Good Companions	Why Plant Together?
Nasturtiums	Repel pests, add color
Geraniums	Attract pollinators, repel pests
Lavender	Deter deer and rabbits, add fragrance
Foxgloves	Enhance pollination, add height
Ferns	Add texture, provide moisture

This companion planting guide for astrantia aims to help you create a thriving, beautiful garden. By choosing the right companions, you can enhance both the health and the aesthetic of your garden space.