China Aster ‘Rose of Shanghai Light Blue’

Callistephus chinensis

Features

  • Medium producer

Description

The tallest China aster we’ve ever grown, these towering, waist-high plants produce a bumper crop of giant, soft lavender-blue flowers with cheerful golden centers. These beautiful and durable blooms hold up wonderfully in both the garden and the vase. Giant, slightly nodding flower heads ride atop long, strong stems, making them an excellent cut flower and a must-grow for late summer and autumn bouquets.

Details

Plant type: annual
Height: 40 to 48 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 tallest China aster we’ve ever grown, these towering, waist-high plants produce a bumper crop of giant, soft lavender-blue flowers with cheerful golden centers. These beautiful and durable blooms hold up wonderfully in both the garden and the vase. Giant, slightly nodding flower heads ride atop long, strong stems, making them an excellent cut flower and a must-grow for late summer and autumn bouquets.

Details

Plant type: annual
Height: 40 to 48 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

Summer Mini Course

Learn how to grow, harvest & arrange beautiful cut flowers

In our three-part video series, you’ll learn a simple step to double the number of blooms your plants produce, how to cut and care for your flowers for the longest vase life, and how to make mixed bouquets quickly and efficiently.