Aster Matsumoto Red Seeds produce rich red flowers with bright yellow centres on tall, upright stems. This annual adds bold colour to sunny garden beds and makes a striking cut flower.
Grow Guide: How to grow Matsumoto China asters in South Africa.
Quick Grow Facts
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Plant Type: Annual
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Scientific Name: Callistephus chinensis
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Series: Matsumoto
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Seed Form: Raw seed; never eat sowing seed
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South African Sowing Time: Use a mild regional window: late winter to spring in winter-rainfall areas, after frost inland, and the cooler workable window in humid or hot regions
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Position: Full sun, free drainage and strong airflow
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Sow Depth: Approximately 1 mm of medium-grade vermiculite
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Light: No strict light or darkness trigger is documented; move emerged seedlings into bright light immediately
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Pretreatment: None; do not soak, scarify or chill
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Germination: Approximately 7–14 days at about 21°C
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Transplant: About 25–28 days after sowing when roots hold the plug; do not delay
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Spacing: 10 × 12.5 cm in a supported cut row; 15 × 20 cm for a fuller garden plant on the current packet label
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Growth Form: Upright spray-type cut flower
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Plant and Stem Size: Plants commonly 61–76 cm; breeder-listed cut stems up to about 76–91 cm
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Flower Size and Colour: Approximately 5 cm red flowers with yellow centres
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Flowering Time: About 90–100 days under programmed production; allow 14–16 weeks under natural seasonal conditions
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Harvest: Cut when two or three flowers on a spray are about one-quarter open
Why Grow This Variety
- Deep red blooms create a strong focal point in the garden.
- Yellow centres provide crisp contrast.
- Tall, sturdy stems are well suited to cutting.
- An approachable annual flower for sunny spaces.
Garden Uses
Plant Matsumoto Red in sunny borders, mixed annual beds or cut-flower patches where its vivid colour can stand out in the garden and in indoor arrangements.
Growing Notes
- Pre-moisten clean, free-draining seedling mix, sow one raw seed per cell and cover with approximately 1 mm of medium-grade vermiculite.
- Keep near 21°C and evenly moist without saturation; give bright light and airflow immediately after emergence.
- Transplant at about 25–28 days. Use 10 × 12.5 cm supported cut-row spacing or the current packet's 15 × 20 cm garden spacing.
- Install horizontal support early, water at soil level and rotate away from beds used for China asters in the previous year.
- Allow 90–100 days under programmed production or 14–16 weeks under natural seasonal conditions; harvest when two or three flowers are about one-quarter open.
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