Callistephus chinensis Seeds | China Aster
LATIN NAME: Callistephus chinensis
COMMON NAME: China Aster
Plant Profile
China Aster (Callistephus chinensis) is a bushy annual of the daisy family (Asteraceae), native to China and Korea and bred in gardens for over two centuries. It grows 20-90 cm tall, with toothed leaves and large, many-petalled flower heads in purple, pink, red, blue and white from summer to autumn. It is a mainstay of the cutting garden, and breeders have produced forms from single daisies to tight pompons.
Science & Biotechnology
Botanists studying the Callistephus group regularly include Callistephus chinensis in comparative work, and the species also appears in horticultural trials aimed at gardeners and growers. Its long history of intensive ornamental breeding, producing an enormous range of flower forms and colours from a single wild species, has also made it a significant subject within history of Chinese and later European flower breeding. Continuing work by breeders and collectors keeps good seed of this species moving through the trade.
Uses & Benefits
Beyond its ornamental appeal, China Aster has the practical versatility that makes a plant worth growing from seed year after year. China aster is one of the most popular cut-flower and bedding annuals worldwide, valued for its long vase life, wide colour range and reliable performance from summer through to autumn frost. Its considerable variety of available forms, from simple daisy shapes to fully double blooms, makes it adaptable to nearly any style of cutting garden or formal bedding display. Thereafter it wants only the ordinary attentions any garden plant receives.
China aster is a cut-flower classic grown purely for its blooms; it has no medicinal record of note.
Growing from Seed
Sow fresh seed of China Aster under ordinary good conditions. Sow seed into a loose, well-drained mix at a shallow depth, keeping it consistently moist until germination. Full sun suits this fast-growing annual well, and successive sowings every few weeks through spring help extend cutting season, since individual plants flower over a relatively defined period. A simple routine works well: sow evenly over the surface and cover lightly in a loose, well-drained seed compost, maintain even moisture, and provide full sun. Move strong seedlings into individual pots, keep them in good light, and set them out when the weather and their size agree.
Our Take
China Aster is the kind of plant that rewards a permanent spot. It tolerates the sort of small mistakes every beginner makes.
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