Description

China Aster ‘King Size Apricot’

Callistephus chinensis

I grow more of this one than anything else!

Tall pale apricot flowers come in a range of single, double and semi double blooms, so they look incredible bundled up together with nothing else or with anything else in the garden, they are so flexible and flower for ages so you can have the best of both worlds by letting them flower in the garden and pick them for arrangements!

Don’t confuse these with perennial Asters (Symphyotrichum) which can be invasive, this showstopper is from Northern China.

How to grow:

China Aster ‘King Size Apricot’ is interesting and fun to grow being both cold and light sensitive, so don’t start them too early.

Seeds will benefit from ‘a bit of warmth’ to germinate, 20-22°C is ideal, a warm kitchen or a heat mat.

I sow one seed per cell on to the surface of the compost only covering with a clear propagator lid to retain moisture and humidity.

Plant 22cm apart after the last frost.

For more detailed growing instructions join our ‘Grow-A-Long’  and for busy gardeners you can now plan ahead with our Spring Grow-A-Long Handbook.

Details:
Variety: Callistephus chinensis
Type: Half Hardy Annual
Position: Plants require full sun
Sow: Spring
Height: King Size Apricot 86-100cm (34-40”) (3-3 ½ FT)
Spacing: 22cm
Harvest: dramatic displays from July until September
Seeds per packet: 50 (approx. counted by weight)

Cutting /Vase Life:

China Asters are a fabulous cut flower, producing large blooms on strong slender stems. For the longest vase life (7-10 days), pick as soon as flowers begin to open and rest stems in a bucket of water for a few hours (preferably overnight) before arranging, this is called conditioning.