aster
Callistephus chinensis
RHS Plants for Pollinators
USDA zones2 to 11
SunHandles full sun to partial sun
WaterHandles moderate to moist soil
Size2 to 3 feet tall12 to 18 inches wide
- Growth rate
- Rapid
- Habit
- Erect
- Bloom season
- Summer, autumn
- Bloom color
- Cultivar shades of white to pink, red, blue,violet, purple and yellow
- Foliage color
- Green
- Soil types
- Sand, loam, clay, chalk
- Soil pH
- Acid, alkaline, neutral
Garden uses
Attracts
Notes
Aster (Callistephus chinensis) is an annual for borders, cut flowers, pollinator gardens, and containers. It shrugs off cool spells and light frost, though a hard freeze will damage it. This plant likes full or part sun and average to moist soil of most types. It grows fast to 24 to 36 inches tall and stays 12 to 18 inches wide. Butterflies and bees visit the blooms, which come in shades of white, pink, red, blue, violet, purple, and yellow.
Pairs well with Snapdragon, Purple top, First Knight fountain grass, and Gentian sage.
Native range
Central Asia, Asia, Manchuria, Primorye, and 1 more places. See all 5
Central Asia, Asia, Manchuria, Primorye, and Xinjiang.