China Aster ‘Valkyrie Pink’

Callistephus chinensis

Features

  • Medium producer

Description

The palm-size blooms on this mauve-pink beauty are reminiscent of the color of sea anemones. Buds are lighter than mature flowers, giving plants a wonderful color range. Long, pointed flower petals resemble rosy cactus flowers, and as blooms open, the center petals are swirled. These beautiful, durable flowers hold up excellently in both the garden and the vase, on long, strong stems, and would be great for wedding work. A must-grow for late summer and autumn bouquets.

Details

Plant type: annual
Height: 24 to 36 in
Site: full sun
Days to maturity: 110 to 120 days
Plant spacing: 9 in
Pinch: not necessary

Seed Sowing & Growing Notes

Start seed indoors in trays 6 to 8 weeks before last frost; transplant out after all danger of frost has passed. Don’t bury seeds too deeply; lightly cover with soil or vermiculite.

Harvesting/Vase Life

Harvest single-stem varieties when flowers are 50 percent open. For spray varieties, harvest when one-quarter of the flowers on a stem have opened. Expect a vase life of 7 to 10 days.

Details

Description

The palm-size blooms on this mauve-pink beauty are reminiscent of the color of sea anemones. Buds are lighter than mature flowers, giving plants a wonderful color range. Long, pointed flower petals resemble rosy cactus flowers, and as blooms open, the center petals are swirled. These beautiful, durable flowers hold up excellently in both the garden and the vase, on long, strong stems, and would be great for wedding work. A must-grow for late summer and autumn bouquets.

Details

Plant type: annual
Height: 24 to 36 in
Site: full sun
Days to maturity: 110 to 120 days
Plant spacing: 9 in
Pinch: not necessary

Seed Sowing & Growing Notes

Start seed indoors in trays 6 to 8 weeks before last frost; transplant out after all danger of frost has passed. Don’t bury seeds too deeply; lightly cover with soil or vermiculite.

Harvesting/Vase Life

Harvest single-stem varieties when flowers are 50 percent open. For spray varieties, harvest when one-quarter of the flowers on a stem have opened. Expect a vase life of 7 to 10 days.

Sources

How to Grow

Winter Mini Course

Learn how to start flowers from seed in this three-part video series

In our upcoming Winter Mini Course, you’ll learn everything you need to know to successfully start flowers from seed, including all of the necessary supplies, step-by-step instructions, special tips and tricks, and how to create a simple indoor seed-starting area.