Origin
The colorful flowers of the summer aster (Callistephus chinensis) embody everything that makes summer flowers so popular: lush, bright and varied, the annual aster is also ideal as a cut flower. Its ornamental value has been recognized by flower lovers since early on. In China, the home of the summer aster, wild populations were cultivated over 2,000 years ago. Today, there is a huge range of summer flowers from the summer aster genus (Callistephus) and the composite family (Asteraceae). Pretty mixes are available straight from the seed bag.

Growth of summer asters
Upright in growth, the height depends on the area of use. The group of broadly bushy bedding and potted plants remains low at 20 to 30 centimeters. Cut varieties for summer beds grow 30 to 60 centimeters high. Particularly long-stemmed specimens, such as the 'Giant Princess' series, which are mainly grown professionally, grow up to 80 centimeters high.

Leaves
The toothed leaves are elongated. The dark green foliage highlights the bright flower colors.

Flowers
The color palette ranges from white to pink, salmon, purple, mauve and blue-violet. Even bright yellow is mixed in. Depending on the variety, summer asters are single, semi-double or fully double and have developed an attractive range of flower shapes. Some resemble chrysanthemums and can reach a flower diameter of 10 to 15 centimeters. Button types form small pompoms, while summer asters are surprisingly fringed with needle-like, radiating petals. Still others resemble daisies, which has earned summer asters the name "Queen Marguerite" (Reine Marguerite) in France. The early garden forms of Callistephus chinensis all had simple capitula. In some cultivars, the yellow flower centers can still be seen today. Such forms are interesting for bees and other insects as a food source. Flowering of early flowering varieties starts in July and can last well into October for late flowering varieties.


Sommeraster 'Unikum-Mischung'

Cultivation Break

Season Overview

Description

Growing tips

Details

Companion Plants

Antagonistic Plants

Diseases

Pests