CHINA
ASTER
Family COMPOSITAE
Callistephus chinensis
Annual
One of the most popular of all annuals, being
native to China and Japan.
The type has deeply lobed, hairy, ovate leaves;
branching stems of one to two and a half feet,
and flowers with ray petals surrounding a yellow
central disc.
The many garden forms have flowers which range
from white to shades of violet, purple, blue and
rose, often five inches or more across; but none
of yellow shades.
Some of the most outstanding garden forms are
Ostrich Plumes, with quilled petals; Peony Flowered,
with incurved flowers; Comet, double flowers with
loosely arranged rays or petals; Anemone Flowered
with flat florets around a quilled centre; Chrysanthemum
Flowered, with large fully double flowers.
Leviathan, with very large double flowers; and
others with single flowers and Lilliput, a dwarf
group.
Plants are usually raised from seed sown early
in the year in heat, 55º to 65ºF, pricked
off into boxes of compost, and finally planted
out in May. May also be sown in cold frame in
April.
Propagatge from seed.
The flowering season is from late June until Michaelmas.
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