Life Span
Annual
  
Annual and Perennial
  
Type
Flowering Plants
  
Shrub
  
Origin
China
  
Southeastern Asia, India
  
Types
Ribbon series, Milady aster
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
Cold Regions
  
gardens, Homesteads, Urban areas
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
3-9
  
10-15
  
AHS Heat Zone
9 - 1
  
10-9
  
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
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White, Yellow, Purple, Pink, Rose, Crimson, Blue Violet
  
Orange, Light Yellow, Peach, Orange Red
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Not Available
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Non Fruiting Plant
  
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
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Arrowhead
  
Ovate
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
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
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Not Available
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
  
Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings
  
Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
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
  
  
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
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single, Double, Semi-Double
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
Yes
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
No
  
No
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Not Available
  
Hummingbirds, Butterflies
  
Allergy
Asthma
  
no allergic reactions
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bouquets, Hanging Basket, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
  
Beautification, Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
No
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for insects, Versatility, Very little waste
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
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 Hindi
चीन एस्टर
  
आबोली
  
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
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Not Available
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Not Available
  
Order
Asterales
  
Lamiales
  
Family
Asteraceae
  
Acanthaceae
  
Genus
Callistephus
  
Crossandra
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Astereae
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Asteroideae
  
Brodiaeoideae