Cut Flower
King Size Apricot Aster is a showstopping cultivar of Callistephus chinensis that brings warmth and abundance to late-season gardens. True to its name, this variety produces oversized blooms in a rich apricot tone that practically glows against green foliage. Growing 12 inches tall when thinned properly, it thrives in full sun to partial shade and blooms reliably from seed started indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last frost date. For gardeners in mild climates, this aster offers a special bonus: sow in late summer for spectacular winter bloom.
Partial Sun
Moderate
2-11
?in H x ?in W
Perennial
High
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The star quality here is size, these blooms are genuinely king-sized compared to standard asters, with that warm apricot hue that feels both sophisticated and cheerful. Starting indoors gives you the best shot at big, healthy plants, and the flexibility to sow in late summer in mild zones means you can engineer bloom right through winter when color is scarce. This variety responds beautifully to proper thinning and spacing, rewarding careful seedlings with robust plants.
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your average last frost date. Sow at a depth of 1/8 inch in a warm location maintaining 65°F. For mild climates, start seeds in late summer instead to establish plants for winter bloom.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after your average last frost date, when soil temperature has warmed to at least 65°F. Harden off seedlings gradually over several days before planting.
Direct sow 1 to 2 weeks after your average last frost date, when soil temperature reaches at least 65°F. In mild climates, direct sow in late summer for winter bloom.
For cut flower use, harvest blooms when they are fully open by cutting stems in the early morning. Cut just above a leaf node to encourage additional branching and continued blooming.
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