Customer Service Hours
Mon-Fri 8-4 MST
Features
Family
Asteraceae
Native
China
Life Cycle
Annual
Plant Height
Tall (Greater than 24")
Flower Color
Blue
Bloom Season
Summer to frost
Further Information
Plant Characteristics
- Attracts Pollinators
- Cut Flower
About Bonita Top Blue Aster Seeds
Callistephus chinensis
Fully-double, 2'' blue-purple flowers
Planting Aster
Plant Spacing
A group of 4 seeds every 12''
Light Required
Full sun to part shade
Plant Height
Tall (Greater than 24")
Planting Depth
⅛"
Planting Details
| Seed Depth | ⅛" |
|---|---|
| Seed Spacing | A group of 4 seeds every 12'' |
| Thinning | When 2" tall, thin to 1 every 12'' |
| Germination | 10–15 days |
| Start Indoors | RECOMMENDED. 6 to 8 weeks before your average last frost date. Mild Climates: Start in late summer for winter bloom. |
| Direct Sow | 1 to 2 weeks after your average last frost date, when soil temperature is at least 65°F. Mild Climates: Sow in late summer for winter bloom. |
| Special Care | Mulch plants (avoid mulch touching stems) to help keep shallow aster roots consistently moist. Staking may be necessary. To reduce the possibility of common diseases, avoid wetting leaves when watering, and ensure good air circulation with proper thinning and spacing. |
| Growing & Harvesting | For longest vase life, harvest flower in the morning, choosing buds that have just begun to open. Change vase water frequently. |
Find Your Frost Date & Grow Zone
Average First Frost Date
October 19
Average Last Frost Date
May 19
Your Hardiness Zone is
5b
Send Your Recommendation
Total 5 star reviews: 3 Total 4 star reviews: 3 Total 3 star reviews: 1 Total 2 star reviews: 0 Total 1 star reviews: 1
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Rating
Which best describes you as a gardener?
8 reviews
- Eric W.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars4/30/26Beautiful and growing well so far.
I started these inside and they’re doing well to this point.
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateBIBotanical Interests5/8/26Hey Eric,
We're so happy to hear your Bonita Top Blue Aster Seeds are growing well after starting them inside! There's nothing quite like watching those little seedlings thrive under your care! Thanks for sharing your growing success with us! Keep on growing 🌻️
- Wisconsin G.Verified BuyerRated 1 out of 5 stars3/9/26No germination
I unfortunately had none of these seeds germinate from this package. I grew them in the same conditions as the King Size Apricot Aster, which I had good germination from.
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateBIBotanical Interests3/15/26Hey there,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts in a review. I've reached out to you via email to offer assistance. Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we are committed to ensuring your experience is positive. Thank you once again for your input. Keep on growing 🌻️
- Lori M.Verified ReviewerRated 4 out of 5 stars8/22/25Beautiful through a hot, humid late summer
These seeds had good germination and grew into tall, narrow plants about 8" wide. Of the six, five look great. No pests or diseases despite weeks of sunny, 90+ degree days and high humidity. Most are upright but a couple are flopped over from the recent rain; probably a lightweight garden stake and string would hold them upright. They're growing in gravelly clay, which I may have amended with a few handfuls per plant of compost or bagged garden soil. No care besides watering.
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateBIBotanical Interests8/26/25Hey Lori,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with our Bonita Top Blue Aster Seeds! We're thrilled to hear they had good germination and grew into those lovely tall, narrow plants - and wow, five out of six looking great through all those 90+ degree days and high humidity is really impressive! Asters can be sensitive to heat stress, so it sounds like yours are real troopers. We love that they've stayed pest and disease free even through those challenging conditions. Your tip about using lightweight garden stakes and string for the ones that flopped after the rain is spot on - those tall stems sometimes just need a little extra support, especially after heavy weather. It's great to hear they're thriving in your gravelly clay with minimal amendments and care beyond watering. Thanks for the honest feedback and we're so glad these asters are performing beautifully for you through the late summer heat! Keep on growing 🌻️
- Sam L.Rated 5 out of 5 stars8/1/25Worth the wait
Started these flowers inside in mid spring, and when the temps were right transplanted them on the deck. We've been watching them for buds, and in late July we started seeing plenty of them forming. Now they are popping out into a most beautiful bloom, with many more on the way. Very nice addition to our mountain view!
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateBIBotanical Interests8/4/25Hey Sam L.,
Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful growing journey! It sounds like you did everything just right with the indoor start and careful transplanting timing. What a wonderful addition to your mountain view - we can only imagine how stunning those blue asters must look against that backdrop! Your patience and care really paid off beautifully! Keep on growing 🌻️
- Ken S.Rated 5 out of 5 stars3/20/255 Stars
Lovely plant, switches from pale blue to deep purple and keeps the purple for months! So many blooms. Highly recommended.