China Asters

ships year-round

China Aster Seeds

Callistephus chinensis (90 days) Open-pollinated. Bold ostrich-feather blooms in violet, lavender, pink, rose and fuchsia. 2' tall. read more

ships year-round

Princess Mix

China Aster Seeds

Callistephus chinensis (110 days) Open-pollinated. Pompon blooms in purple, salmon, magenta, rose and lavender on long wiry stems. read more

ships year-round

Tower Chamois

China Aster Seeds

not available yet, check back later

Callistephus chinensis
(110 days) Open-pollinated. Annual. Lustrous salmony-pink peony-type 2–3" blooms. The Tower Series asters are bred for... read more

ships year-round

Tower Silver

China Aster Seeds

not available yet, check back later

Callistephus chinensis
(110 days) Open-pollinated. Annual. Irresistible bicolor 2–3" peony-type blooms of iridescent white and purple. Same... read more

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.