This showy annual is a favorite for cut flower arrangements.
This cool-weather plant comes in an array of colors and heights.
The oval medium-sized green leaves have slightly serrated edges.
Where to Plant China Aster
Plant china aster in garden beds, cutting gardens, or containers.
It grows best in moist, loamy, well-draining soil but tolerates other soil conditions.
Situate the plants infull sun to partial shade.
Cover the seeds with 1/8 inch of soil and keep the soil moist.
With a soil temperature of 65-70F, the seeds should germinate in 10-15 days.
The plants appreciate good air circulation, so thin the seedlings to 6-12 inches apart.
Tall varieties may require staking or other support.
China Aster Care Tips
Light
China asters grow in full sun or partial shade.
When grown in hot climates, they benefit from some midday shade.
Water the plants twice a weekmore often in dry climates.
Choose a container an inch wider than the mature plant, making sure it has drainage holes.
Fill it withcommercial potting soiland add the plant.
Pests and Problems
China aster is susceptible to a few pests, includingaphidsand spider mites.
Potential diseases include aster yellows, aster wilt, and stem rot.
The best solution is to dig up and remove any diseased plants.
You may also need to move plants to different locations each year to prevent transmission of diseases.
Use these garden pest control methods to protect your China asters.
How to Propagate China Aster
China asters are annuals that are best propagated by seed.
After the blooms are spent, the seed capsules ripen.
There are also varieties being grown with the home gardener in mind.
Because of this, many different heights are available.
This series has semidouble flowers in just about every color and reaches 24 to 30 inches tall.
This series also has good wilt resistance.
‘Starlight’ Mix China Aster
Callistephuschinensis’Starlight' mix has threadlike petals in a variety of jewel tones.
These blooms look like fireworks.
Dwarf plants are great for containers or the front of the border.
The low clumps of long-stemmed evergreen or semi-evergreen lobed foliage make coralbells fine groundcover plants.
They enjoy humus-rich, moisture-retaining soil.
Beware of heaving in areas with very cold winters.
Marguerite Daisy
For a spectacular show during cool weather, plantmarguerite daisy.
Often confused with shasta daisy, marguerite is more mounded and shrubby.
Different types also come in pink with a bloom resembling purple coneflower.
Fountaingrass
Like many grasses,fountaingrass is spectacularwhen backlit by the rising or setting sun.
This plant self-seeds freely, sometimes to the point of becoming invasive.
Unless it reseeds itself, it must be planted each year.
When they are harvested correctly and kept in a dry place, the seeds remain viable for three years.
