Callistephus chinensis (90 days) Open-pollinated. Annual. Bold ostrich-feather blooms hold well in wet or cold conditions. 2' plants with 4" flowers in violet, lavender, pink, rose and fuchsia and white. This fall-blooming beauty holds well in wet or cold conditions, providing a bit of late-season color in the garden or bouquets. Maule in 1915 asserted that they “surpass in size and beauty any other aster we have ever seen.” “Pleasing, stately, handsome and vigorous,” concluded H.W. Buckbee in 1927. Annual. ①
This item is certified organic
4852
Crego Mix
- Organic
Additional Information
China Aster
~450 seeds/g.
Annual. Callistephus is from Greek kallos meaning ‘beautiful’ and stephos, ‘crown.’ The common name of aster comes from the Greek astron, meaning ‘star,’ a reference to their shape and bright colors. The China Aster began its journey west around 1730 when a Jesuit missionary noticed it growing in a field near Beijing. Wildly popular by 1883 when Burpee listed 19 different classes of them compared to two each of marigold and zinnia. Good bedding plants or cutflowers.
Culture: Sow indoors at 70–72° in late winter, transplant after danger of frost. Cut stems when 2–4 flowers have opened. Vase life is 5–7 days, longer if you use a floral preservative. Aster Yellows is a serious disease problem. Use floating row covers to keep out leafhoppers, the vector.
Flowers
All flowers are open-pollinated except where noted.
Days in parentheses after a variety indicate days to first bloom.
Germination Testing
For the latest results of our germination tests, please see the germination page.
Our Seeds are Non-GMO
All of our seeds are non-GMO, and free of neonicotinoids and fungicides. Fedco is one of the original companies to sign the Safe Seed Pledge.
This item is certified organic