Life Span
Annual
Annual and Perennial
Type
Flowering Plants
Shrub
Origin
China
Southeastern Asia, India
Types
Ribbon series, Milady aster
Crossandra, Firecracker Plant
Habitat
Cold Regions
gardens, Homesteads, Urban areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
3-9
10-15
Sunset Zone
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Upright/Erect
Flower Color
White, Yellow, Purple, Pink, Rose, Crimson, Blue Violet
Orange, Light Yellow, Peach, Orange Red
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Shape
Arrowhead
Ovate
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall, Late Fall
Indeterminate
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Do Not over Water, Keep ground moist, Never Over-water, Requires a lot of watering, Requires regular watering
Form a Soil ring to water efficiently, Keep ground moist, Requires watering in the growing season, Water more in summer
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Alternate Days
Average Water
Soil pH
Slightly Acidic
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loamy, Well drained
Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Loamy, Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Cut or pinch the stems, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
No pruning needed in the early stages, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove deadheads
Fertilizers
Compost, Well-rotted manure
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
fungus
Insects
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single, Double, Semi-Double
Single
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Attracts
-
Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bouquets, Hanging Basket, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Beautification, Showy Purposes
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for insects, Versatility, Very little waste
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Rheumatism
Cold, Cough, Wounds
Part of Plant Used
Flowers
Flowers
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Employed in herbal medicine, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant
Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Cottage garden, Rock Garden, Showy Tree
Bedding Plant, Container, Feature Plant, Hedges, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
CALLISTEPHUS chinensis
CROSSANDRA infundibuliformis
Common Name
China Aster
Firecracker Flower
In German
China Aster
Kracher-Blume
In French
Chine Aster
Firecracker fleur
In Spanish
aster de China
flor petardo
In Greek
Κίνα Aster
πυροτέχνημα λουλούδι
In Portuguese
China Aster
flor foguete
In Polish
Chiny Aster
petarda kwiat
In Latin
Sinis Aster
flos Firecracker
Family
Asteraceae
Acanthaceae
Genus
Callistephus
Crossandra
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Subfamily
Asteroideae
Brodiaeoideae
Season and Care of China Aster and Firecracker Flower
Season and care of China Aster and Firecracker Flower is important to know. While considering everything about China Aster and Firecracker Flower Care, growing season is an essential factor. China Aster season is Spring, Summer and Fall and Firecracker Flower season is Spring, Summer and Fall. The type of soil for China Aster is Loam, Sand and for Firecracker Flower is Loam while the PH of soil for China Aster is Acidic, Neutral and for Firecracker Flower is Acidic, Neutral.
China Aster and Firecracker Flower Physical Information
China Aster and Firecracker Flower physical information is very important for comparison. China Aster height is 20.30 cm and width 25.40 cm whereas Firecracker Flower height is 40.60 cm and width 25.40 cm. The color specification of China Aster and Firecracker Flower are as follows:
China Aster flower color: White, Yellow, Purple, Pink, Rose, Crimson and Blue Violet
China Aster leaf color: Green
Firecracker Flower flower color: Orange, Light Yellow, Peach and Orange Red
- Firecracker Flower leaf color: Green and Dark Green
Care of China Aster and Firecracker Flower
Care of China Aster and Firecracker Flower include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. China Aster pruning is done Cut or pinch the stems, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches and Remove dead leaves and Firecracker Flower pruning is done No pruning needed in the early stages, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves and Remove deadheads. In summer China Aster needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Alternate Days. Whereas, in summer Firecracker Flower needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water.