China Aster ‘Rose of Shanghai Light Blue’
Callistephus chinensis
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
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
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
Sources
How to Grow
Seed-Saving Mini Course
Learn how to save seed from zinnia, dahlia, and celosia
In our upcoming free, three-part video series, you’ll learn everything you need to know to save seeds on a home scale, including how plants are pollinated and isolation techniques to ensure varieties come back true, how to tell when plants are ready to pick and how to harvest the seeds, and how to properly dry, clean, and store seeds long term.
