Aster Matsumoto Pink Seeds

Aster Matsumoto Pink Seeds produce soft pink flowers with contrasting yellow centres on tall stems. This annual is a graceful choice for sunny beds, borders and cut-flower arrangements.

Grow Guide: How to grow Matsumoto China asters in South Africa.

Quick Grow Facts

• Plant Type: Annual
• Scientific Name: Callistephus chinensis
• Series: Matsumoto
• Seed Form: Raw seed; never eat sowing seed
• 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
• Position: Full sun, free drainage and strong airflow
• Sow Depth: Approximately 1 mm of medium-grade vermiculite
• Light: No strict light or darkness trigger is documented; move emerged seedlings into bright light immediately
• Pretreatment: None; do not soak, scarify or chill
• Germination: Approximately 7–14 days at about 21°C
• Transplant: About 25–28 days after sowing when roots hold the plug; do not delay
• Spacing: 10 × 12.5 cm in a supported cut row; 20 cm for a fuller garden plant on the current packet label
• Growth Form: Upright spray-type cut flower
• Plant and Stem Size: Plants commonly 61–76 cm; breeder-listed cut stems up to about 76–91 cm
• Flower Size and Colour: Approximately 5 cm pink flowers with yellow centres
• Flowering Time: About 90–100 days under programmed production; allow 14–16 weeks under natural seasonal conditions
• Harvest: Cut when two or three flowers on a spray are about one-quarter open

Why Grow This Variety

• Soft pink flowers add gentle colour to mixed plantings.
• Yellow centres create a clear contrast against the petals.
• Tall stems make this variety useful for cutting and arranging.
• Suitable for gardeners looking for an easy-to-grow annual flower.

Garden Uses

Use Matsumoto Pink in sunny borders, cottage-style beds or a dedicated cutting patch where the tall pink stems can be enjoyed outdoors and in vases.

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 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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