Not the plant you're looking for? Search over 300,000 plants
Annual Biennial

Callistephus chinensis
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

China aster

Varies in height from 20 to 70cm, and width from 25 to 45cm. Chrysanthemum-like flowers can be single, semi double or double, 7 to 12cm across and held on branching stems over a long period from late summer into autumn. Colours include light and dark purple, light and dark pink, red, yellow and white

Other common names
annual aster
Buy this plant
Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metres
Time to ultimate height
1 year
Ultimate spread
0.1–0.5 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green
Summer Pink Purple Red White Yellow Green
Autumn Pink Purple Red White Yellow Green
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

West–facing or South–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H2
Botanical details
Family
Asteraceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Genus

Callistephus are bushy, upright annuals with coarsely toothed ovate leaves and large, solitary, daisy-like flower-heads, often double in cultivars, in late summer and autumn

Name status

Correct

Plant range
China

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in a sheltered site in fertile, neutral to alkaline, moist but well-drained soil in full sun. Tall cultivars require staking

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown at 16°C in early spring or in situ in mid-spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Mediterranean climate plants
  • Cut flowers
  • Flower borders and beds
Pruning

Deadhead to prolong flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids and cutworms

Diseases

Prone to wilt diseases

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.