China asters revival

BACK in the 1970s and ’80s, my father would spare a few rows of his allotment-style kitchen garden to grow flowers for cutting. There were gladioli, dahlias and what we called asters, but are really China asters from the genus callistephus. A seed packet of mixed colours sown direct to soil in May yielded many bunches of chrysanthemum-like flowers in pink, purple, white and yellow.

Somewhere along the line these half-hardy annuals fell from favour. Now, though, those with bright colours chime with a revival of ’60s and ’70s interior design, and the more romantic pastel shades are popular for borders, containers and wedding cut flowers.

Love, devotion, patience and charm

The China aster () is a half-hardy annual originating from China and Korea,