How to Grow Aster
'Ostrich Plume' Mixed from Seed
A heirloom China aster with serious character — massive shaggy heads of long, curled and twisted petals in shell-pink, deep violet, lavender, crimson and white, arriving in August when the garden most needs reinvigorating
The name is perfect. 'Ostrich Plume' produces flowerheads with the same generous, extravagant, slightly dishevelled quality as the feathers of a well-dressed Victorian hat — long, loosely curled and twisted petals that radiate outward in a shaggy, cloud-like mass quite unlike the tidier, more controlled forms of other aster types. Where the Duchess Mixed produces incurved, chrysanthemum-precise heads and 'Giants of California' creates dense pom-poms, 'Ostrich Plume' gives you something wilder: a fully double flowerhead in which the individual petals are long, curved and often twisted at the tips, creating a flower that feels romantic and exuberant in equal measure.
This is a Fleuroselect Quality Mark winner and a genuine heirloom variety — one that has been grown and valued for generations precisely because the flower form is so distinctive and so effective in arrangements. The mix includes shell-pink, deep violet, lavender, crimson and white, a palette with a soft, romantic quality that complements almost any other late-summer cut flower. Growing 'Ostrich Plume' alongside rudbeckia, dahlias or cosmos produces arrangements of considerable beauty.
Quick Facts at a Glance
Plant Type
Half-Hardy Annual
Sowing Time
Mar–Apr indoors
Flowering Months
August – October
Position
Full sun; well-drained
Height & Spread
45–60cm · 30cm
Difficulty Rating
4 out of 5 — Requires care
Understanding the Plant
The ostrich-plume flower type is one of the oldest and most distinctive forms of China aster breeding. The defining characteristic is the petal length and curl — rather than the short, tightly packed incurved petals of chrysanthemum-type asters or the dense, rounded pompom of the Giants type, each individual petal in 'Ostrich Plume' is longer, looser, and typically curved or twisted along its length. The result is a flowerhead that has movement, texture and depth even when viewed closely, and that photographs beautifully — soft and impressionistic rather than structured and precise.
Like all China asters, 'Ostrich Plume' is susceptible to Fusarium wilt, and crop rotation is the essential preventive measure. The heavy flowerheads also benefit from support in exposed or windy positions — the combination of height and head weight makes staking or netting worthwhile in all but the most sheltered gardens.
Heirloom Variety — What This Means
An heirloom variety is one that has been grown, selected and saved over many generations — typically decades or centuries — rather than being a modern commercial hybrid. Heirloom status indicates that the variety has proven itself worth preserving: it has qualities (in this case, the distinctive shaggy ostrich-plume flower form and the reliable colour range) that gardeners and growers have valued enough to continue producing seed year after year. The Fleuroselect Quality Mark confirms that these heritage qualities meet modern performance standards.
⚠️ Aster Wilt — Rotate Every Season
Fusarium wilt is the primary disease risk for all China asters. Affected plants collapse suddenly without recovery — there is no chemical cure. The prevention is simple: never plant China asters in the same soil two consecutive seasons. The fungus persists for years in infected ground. Growing in containers with fresh compost each season eliminates the risk entirely.
When & How to Sow
Sow indoors in March or April for flowers from August. The growing requirements are the same as all China asters: warmth for germination, cool conditions for growing on, careful hardening off, and — critically — a wilt-free rotation site for planting out.
Support First — Plant Second
Before planting out 'Ostrich Plume', put your support system in place. The large, shaggy flowerheads are heavier than they look, and stems at 45–60cm can topple in wind once the heads are fully developed. Horizontal netting at 30cm height, or bamboo canes with string, placed before planting out, gives stems something to grow into rather than something to be tied to later after the damage is done.
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Sow indoors at 18–21°C from March to April. Sow onto moist seed compost and cover with a fine 3mm layer of vermiculite. Keep consistently moist. Germination takes 10–14 days. Move immediately to bright light after germination and ventilate well.
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Grow on at 12–15°C in good light. Cool growing conditions produce compact, sturdy seedlings. Prick out into individual 7cm pots once seedlings have two true leaves. Grow on steadily, potting up as needed.
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Plant out in late May or June. Space 30cm apart in their designated rotation bed. Place support netting before or at planting time. Water in well and maintain consistent moisture throughout the season.
Growing On Tips
Full Sun
Full sun produces the richest colour saturation and the strongest stems. The violet and shell-pink tones of 'Ostrich Plume' are at their most vivid in strong summer sun. In partial shade, the colours fade and the stems weaken.
Essential Support
The shaggy, multi-petalled heads of 'Ostrich Plume' are heavier than they appear. Support with horizontal netting at 30cm placed before planting out, or with individual bamboo canes and soft ties. In windy positions, this is non-negotiable for straight, professional-quality cutting stems.
Crop Rotation
Move the aster bed to a new position every season. Fusarium wilt persists in soil for years; rotation is the only prevention. Container growing with fresh compost eliminates all wilt risk and works well for 'Ostrich Plume' in large pots of 30cm diameter or more.
Cutting Technique
Cut when flowerheads are fully open — the petals should be spread and the head fully rounded. The shaggy, loosely-structured heads of 'Ostrich Plume' look their best when fully developed rather than when cut early. Remove all foliage below the water line. Condition in deep cool water before arranging. Vase life is ten to fourteen days.
Moisture Management
Keep soil consistently moist at the base — water overhead creates conditions favourable to fungal diseases. Mulch around plants in June to retain moisture and reduce the need for frequent watering. In containers, daily checking of moisture levels in summer is necessary as pots dry quickly in full sun.
Feeding
Feed fortnightly with a balanced liquid fertiliser from planting out, switching to a high-potash feed from late July. Consistent feeding produces larger, more fully developed flowerheads and sustains the plant's vigour through the long flowering season into October.
Common Problems & How to Fix Them
| Problem | Likely Cause | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Wilt — sudden collapse | Fusarium wilt — soil-borne | No cure. Remove and destroy immediately. Do not return China asters to this ground for three to five years. Grow in containers with fresh compost next season to eliminate risk. |
| Stems falling over | Heavy heads + insufficient support | Install horizontal netting or individual stakes at 30cm before stems develop fully. Once stems have toppled, they are difficult to rescue without visible tying that damages the garden aesthetics. Prevention at planting is essential. |
| Petals not curling as expected | Stress, heat, or growing conditions | The distinctive curled and twisted petal form is at its most pronounced in plants grown in ideal conditions — consistent moisture, adequate feeding, and full sun. Stressed plants may produce less dramatically curled petals. Growing conditions matter significantly for 'Ostrich Plume' character. |
| Aphid infestation | Common on China asters from May | Inspect regularly. Remove with a jet of water or insecticidal soap. Aphids can transmit aster yellows disease — prompt control is important, especially in the early weeks after planting out when plants are most vulnerable. |
When to Expect Flowers
'Ostrich Plume' flowers from August through to October — the same late-season window as 'Giants of California' and later than Duchess Mixed. From a March sowing, peak flowering is in August and September, with October flowers extending the season in mild years. This late season is genuinely valuable: by August, much of the summer garden is in decline, and the generous, shaggy flowerheads of 'Ostrich Plume' in violet, lavender and shell-pink provide exactly the colour and abundance the late season needs.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
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| 🌱 Sow Indoors |
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| 🪴 Plant Out |
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| 🌸 Flowering |
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Plant Specifications
The heirloom aster with real character
Aster 'Ostrich Plume' has been grown and treasured for generations for a reason — the shaggy, feathery, loosely curled flowerheads in violet, lavender, shell-pink and crimson are quite unlike any other China aster form, and they bring a romantic, slightly wild quality to arrangements that more tightly structured asters cannot match. Rotate the bed, support the stems, and discover why this Fleuroselect-winning heirloom has survived fashion for so long. Sometimes the old varieties are old for the very best of reasons.
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