(110 days) Open-pollinated. Annual. Lustrous salmony-pink peony-type 2–3" blooms. The Tower Series asters are bred for uniform height and bloom time. In ideal conditions, one sturdy plant can produce up to 20 stems. We’ve found that plants in a lower-input setting still reliably produce at least 8–12 stems. NEW! ③
Tower Chamois China Aster
Tower Chamois China Aster
(110 days) Open-pollinated. Annual. Lustrous salmony-pink peony-type 2–3" blooms. The Tower Series asters are bred for uniform height and bloom time. In ideal conditions, one sturdy plant can produce up to 20 stems. We’ve found that plants in a lower-input setting still reliably produce at least 8–12 stems. NEW! ③
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.