China Aster ‘Harlekin Light Rose’

Callistephus chinensis

Features

  • Medium producer

Description

This tall, feminine beauty is smothered in an abundance of the sweetest, soft nearly ballerina-pink blossoms. Medium-size flower heads ride atop strong, wiry stems, and disk-shaped blooms have a fluffy appearance from the hundreds of quilled tubular petals covering them. 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

This tall, feminine beauty is smothered in an abundance of the sweetest, soft nearly ballerina-pink blossoms. Medium-size flower heads ride atop strong, wiry stems, and disk-shaped blooms have a fluffy appearance from the hundreds of quilled tubular petals covering them. 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: Seed-Starting 101

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.