The Astrantia, disappointingly given the common name of masterwort NOT starflower, is a shade-loving herbaceous perennial in the parsley family. It is still used in herbal medicine today to increase appetite, but mostly, it’s just very pretty. It comes in any shade from white to dark purple, and the star-shaped flower bracts (hence the name) contain intricate little flowerlets. It’s one of my faves.

