Aster Giants of California

The giant of the aster world — and a Fleuroselect Quality Mark winner. Giants of California was bred specifically in Santa Maria, California for the cut-flower trade, and it shows: massive, fully double, ostrich-plume blooms up to 12cm across in deep purple, hot pink, and clear violet, so densely packed with petals that the yellow centre is rarely visible, held on tall, strong 70–80cm stems.

Where standard peony-flowered asters produce flowers around 6–8cm, Giants of California delivers heads that are genuinely luxurious — the aster for those who want maximum impact in the vase. Listed on the RHS Plants for Pollinators.

• Callistephus chinensis 'Giants of California' — Fleuroselect Quality Mark, Half-Hardy Annual (H2)
• Height: 70–80cm | Flowers: August–October
• Sow indoors March–April; surface sow with fine vermiculite
• Full sun; rich, well-drained soil — space 30–40cm apart
• Outstanding for cutting — the largest aster blooms available from seed
• RHS Plants for Pollinators listed

The late-summer showstopper. Grow it and cut it generously — it will keep producing right through to October.