Chinese aster

Chinese aster is an annual that pleases people all over the world. If this is the first time you decided to plant it, then our advice will come in handy. This article contains a lot of information about the variety itself, about the features of caring for it, and all the information is relevant for any varieties of this type of aster.

Chinese aster: legends and myths

People who have their own plot have incredible advantages: they can independently decorate their plot, they can choose for themselves which plants will be planted on it, which compositions can be collected from a wide variety of varieties. In this regard, it is flowers that play a special role, since today there are an incredible many families. Genera, species, varieties. In this article, we will dwell a little more on the description of Chinese asters, which have been popular with summer residents for many years, and still remain win-win options when it comes to home planting.

Many plants have their own background, how they appeared, in what territories, who bred them and where. There are an incredible number of legends about the Chinese aster. In different parts of the world, people tell a variety of myths and legends about this aster, and incredible stories simply boggle the imagination. So, in Greece, these flowers have long been associated with the stars, and in translation from Latin the name sounds exactly like that. Also, these flowers were associated with the constellations of such goddesses as Aphrodite, and with the constellation Virgo. Aphrodite is generally considered a symbol of love, and therefore the Chinese aster is associated with the light, romantic feelings that people show for each other. There is also a legend that at night asters can whisper to the stars, and if you wake up at night and listen, you can hear their secret dialogue.

As for the inhabitants of the Celestial Empire itself, after which these asters were named, for them this flower is a symbol of femininity and beauty, tenderness and elegance, they show respect to it with due Chinese aesthetics. In Europe, asters are a symbol of sadness, because for many, the flower is associated with the road to heaven, which people, due to their temper, have irrevocably lost, and are unlikely to ever find it. You can talk about the legends and myths that envelop this aster for a very long time, endlessly, since this flower has existed for many years and grows in various parts of the world.

In this article, we will tell you a little more about more everyday questions - about what varieties exist today, and how you can grow Chinese aster in your own garden, having received beautiful, elegant flowers. We will also mention the methods of growing, because today there are several of them, but we will describe two main ones that will give guaranteed inflorescences.

Description of colors

Chinese aster: photo of flowers

The flowers of the Chinese aster have a fairly well-developed root system, which grows mainly in breadth, which should be borne in mind when planting seeds or seedlings (especially in observing the distances between plantings, otherwise the roots will get confused with each other, which will negatively affect the development of the entire flower in overall).

Nevertheless, gardeners emphasize one important point: the root system of an already matured Chinese aster grows very well, and at the same time is very resistant to various types of damage. That is, if the gardener accidentally damaged the root, or part of the branches, then they recover quickly enough, so there is no reason to worry that the bushes will further decay and die.Therefore, within the framework of planting or transplanting Chinese asters, this is their great advantage.

The stems of the Chinese aster are straight, they can take on a different shade, it all depends solely on the variety. The second name that Chinese asters carry is callistephius. However, there is something that really boggles the imagination of gardeners: there is such a huge variety of shades of this flower that it will take your breath away. In addition to the standard white, pink, and scarlet, purple and blue tones can be found, and they are rarely obtained from any other plant varieties.

Chinese aster is not one flower that has several shades of inflorescence, but the appearance is almost always the same. Chinese aster is a collection of a huge number of varieties, and just below we will present the most popular ones that can be found on gardeners' backyards.

Note also that the Chinese aster can be both an annual and a biennial. They can be grown in two of the most basic and, as a rule, common methods - either by seedlings, or by sowing seeds directly into the ground. At the same time, the peculiarity lies in the fact that sowing directly into the open ground of seeds is practiced not only in warm regions of our country, but also in most others, where the climate is not so mild and favorable, and this is a huge advantage: the plant is stable and strong.

Chinese asters are very fond of sunlight, they are great about watering, but only if it is really necessary. If you take care of the aster, follow it, then in return you can get not only abundant, but also long flowering. It usually starts around June and lasts until the very autumn frosts, and this is a huge period. Depending on which variety was chosen, the height of the bushes varies from 20 to 90 centimeters, they can grow as independent plants, and as a composition in a flower bed or landscape design. This is a very multifunctional and unpretentious flower, which is why gardeners in various climatic zones of our country love it so much.

Well, of course, in the next part of this article we will move on to the most interesting - to the varieties of Chinese asters, which today are the most win-win options, and which are immensely popular among gardeners, gardeners, florists and landscape designers.

Chinese aster: varieties

Chinese aster: video about flowers

A little higher in the article, we have already focused on the fact that flowers can be of various varieties, and each variety has its own distinctive features and characteristics. Professional, experienced florists recommend planting several varieties of Chinese asters, which we will tell you about in more detail right now.

• "Serenade" - this variety is a mixture of various shades of flowers, which are also very unpretentious to care for. By planting such a variety on the site, you can create a flower bed or area where flowers of various shades will grow. These asters in their appearance are very reminiscent of chrysanthemums. This variety is an excellent option for those who are very busy and do not have the opportunity to plant many plants: in one package you can find all the colors that are most often found on the site.
• "Pompom" Chinese asters - you can not even describe them, because everything is clear from the name. The caps of these asters resemble pom-poms of various shades. They can be white, pale blue, pink, yellowish, dark blue, reminiscent of the starry sky. Such asters will become a real decoration of any area, they are great for cutting them off and placing them in a bouquet arrangement. Overall, this is one of the standard and preferred varieties of Chinese aster, which receives many positive reviews from gardeners around the world.
• "Valkyrie" - the flower looks like an albino hedgehog, because this aster is unsurpassed, perfect white and very needle-like. The bush really looks incredible, it will delight the gardener throughout the summer. Flowers can be cut and will stand perfectly in a vase. With a daily change of water, it can stand for about 14 days.
• "Don Quixote" - the shade of the flower resembles the sky before a thunderstorm, they are of an extraordinary deep blue hue, which is quite difficult to achieve if other flowers are grown. It is worth noting that, in general, asters are one of the few flowers that are often found in blue. The flowers are very massive, dense, have many blue petals, so they attract the attention of gardeners.
• "The Dragon" Is the perfect variety for those who love swing in everything, and flowers are no exception. The flowers are very pompous, they can decorate any garden. They can be cut and placed in vases, they will stand for 10 days and delight the gardener's eye. Another variety that we would like to tell you about is "Curb Baby". This is ideal for those who would like to decorate their garden paths, as well as separate one area of ​​the site from another, but do it as attractively as possible.

But in fact, there are a huge variety of varieties of Chinese asters, for every taste of a florist. If the gardener wants to choose small and compact varieties, then it is recommended for him to plant "Tanechkin Bouquet", "Triumph", "Milady", "Ballad", "Granddaughter Anyutka", "Vuchenka Katyusha", "Little Queen" and many others. The varieties are very compact, have an aesthetic decorative appearance, they can be an excellent decoration for any personal plot, if the gardener wants to get neat little flower beds, or to decorate the borders.

If, on the contrary, the gardener likes the scale, or he just wants to block off the area that he does not like and which does not add aesthetic appeal to the area, then varieties such as Symphony, Apollonia, Royal, Slice, Apricot King, White King, Pink King, Matador, King Size... The names of these Chinese asters speak for themselves and about what size and color, as well as for what purposes these varieties of asters can be intended. Their height can reach 80 centimeters, and with proper care, even a meter, the inflorescences are chic, large, which makes asters unique and memorable in their appearance and performance, and this is a huge advantage, because flowers are usually grown in order to get from them Aesthetic pleasure.

Chinese aster: growing from seeds, planting and care

As we noted, there are two ways to grow Chinese asters. Let's start with reckless. Earlier, we emphasized that asters are generally quite unpretentious, and the agricultural technology is practically the same as that of other varieties. But still, after the asters have been purchased, it is best to take a closer look at the instructions and information that is indicated on the packaging. And, once again, we focus on the fact that there are hundreds of varieties, and each one can have its own small, but at the same time unique features.

Planting Chinese asters in the ground can be done if you follow some of the recommendations given by experienced gardeners:

• the site must be chosen in such a way that it is well lit and there is partial shade on it. This will allow the flowers to grow well and actively, and at the same time do not produce small inflorescences.
• the root system does not treat excessively wet areas very well, so you should not choose low-lying places where water can accumulate and harm the root system;
• as a rule, any culture is very loyal to feeding. For asters, organic matter is ideal - manure, droppings, as well as fertilizers, which are distinguished by a high content of the nitrogen component.It is best to use humus and complex preparations for feeding, as well as superphosphate, ash, which are ideal for asters, without harming them at all (if, of course, you follow the instructions and apply fertilizers according to the schedule)
• it is important to remember that the soil in which the asters are planted can be contaminated, and therefore it is best to water it with boiling water with the addition of manganese before sowing. You can also sprinkle some ash on the site, this can also have a positive effect on the soil and its condition.
• the soil should not be acidic, high acidity plays a cruel joke with asters. If the soil for planting is acidic, lime should be added to it
• the soil must be well drained - you can use the most common sand for this purpose
• if the florist has chosen tall varieties for breeding, then they should be planted in areas where there will be no particular wind. Chinese asters are also susceptible to late blight, so you should not plant them in the same place where tomatoes and potatoes grew before. The disease can be prevented because it is much more difficult to deal with it, and the result will not always meet the expectations of the grower.

Seedling method - basically, if the grower uses it, the recommendations remain the same as they were with the non-seedling propagation method. But usually it is recommended to sow seeds not in trays, but in pots, which consist of peat. This is a fairly convenient way, and the pots made of natural material fit perfectly into the soil. This does not injure the root system, the seedlings do not need to further adapt to new conditions, since they originally grew in similar, in such a pot.

Your own or purchased soil is placed in a pot, seeds are distributed, sprinkled with soil and moistened from a spray bottle. Then the pots are best covered with plastic wrap. After the seedlings have risen, the film can be removed, and the cups can be sent to the sunny windowsill. Further watering should be done only as the soil dries up. High varieties should be planted in open ground at a decent distance from each other, the area should be protected from the wind. In some cases, supports are installed under high varieties so that the plant does not spread out and not be damaged.

Chinese asters are flowers that quickly adapt to new conditions, they are easy to care for, which brings additional pleasure. In response, the grower receives excellent

flower beds with incredibly beautiful flowers that can remain there, or can be cut and put in a vase. Today asters are being recreated with special activity, new varieties and species appear, but still traditional asters, including Chinese ones, remain classics of floriculture, since they have a huge number of advantages, a wide range and are absolutely unpretentious if we are talking about caring for them. It is worth remembering only some of the rules for care, and then the florist will get really decent results, which will be distinguished by an unsurpassed appearance and other decorative qualities.