Guide to growing garden plants - Callistephus (China Aster)
Plants from the genus Callistephus are half or full hardy annuals.
They are bushy in nature and range in height from 20 to 60cm.
The blooms of Callistephus are similar to chrysanthemum.
They flower in the summer in almost all colours, the key exception being yellow.
Other names for the garden plant include China Aster.
How to grow China Aster (Callistephus)
If planning to grow Callistephus then the seeds should be sown just below the surface in the spring, following the last frost. If you plan to grow China Aster and similar as seedlings indoors for later transplanting then they should be germinated at a temperature of 18 to 21C for two weeks. Seedlings should then be watered from below only. After about 7 weeks the seedlings should be planted in the garden in an area of partial shade or full sun with a spacing of 20cm (dwarf) 40cm (medium) or 55cm for larger species. They prefer to grow in a rich soil that has good drainage and a pH of 6 to 7.
Caring for China Aster - Callistephus plants
Callistephus are not the easiest plants to look after, they should be carefully watered when it is dry and require a couple of feeds when growing. Additionally they should be staked, dead headed and require careful weeding of plants in the area; it is good to rotate Callistephus's location every year.