Description

China Aster ‘Rainbow Mix’

Callistephus chinensis

Blooming right at the end of the season, just as everything else is starting to fade.

China Aster ‘Rainbow Mix’ comes in a multitude of dazzling colours, perfect if you are desperate to try them all but only have a small growing space they are also very handy if you are wanting to sell your cut flowers, you’ll always have ‘something’ in the right colour!

Goes amazingly well with our new range of Statice.

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

How to grow:

China Aster ‘Rainbow Mix’ 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: Rainbow Mix 70-80cm 70-80 (24-30”) (2 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.

Sometimes called the ‘Peony Aster’ due to the striking resemblance. Colours are subject to slight blending variance, fully double flowers with occasional semi double or single flowers.