Aster Flower Seeds Packet

$2.35

2025 Seed Prices

  • Order 1-95 assorted packets for $2.35 each
  • Order 96-499 assorted packets for $1.85 each
  • Order 500 or more assorted packets for $1.65 each

Aster seeds grow into a late-season daisy-shaped bloomer that fills the garden with color just as everything else is quitting for the year. Shido aster seeds are non-GMO and hermetically vacuum-sealed — a steady way to add a genuine fall bloomer to next year's border — while standard paper-packed seeds lose germination viability within approximately one year.

Everything else in the border has already quietly given up for the year; the aster treats that as an opening, not a warning. Butterflies treat it as a late-season refueling stop, arriving in numbers that most summer flowers never manage to attract on their own. It closes the gardening year out on purpose rather than by accident, and does it in genuine color. Split the clumps every few seasons and one fall planting quietly becomes a genuine drift, no further. Every packet ships germination-tested at independent third-party labs before packaging.

SKU: SEASTE
Barcode: 843458152491

Product Detail

Order in multiples of: 12

  • Year Designed:
Quick Seed Overview
  • Plant Type: Annual
  • Genus: Callistephus
  • Species: Chinensis
  • Zone: 3-8
  • Plant Height/Width: Up to 3 feet tall
  • Season: Blooms in spring, early summer and fall
  • Exposure: Sun
  • Difficulty: Easy in temperate climates

Why Shido Seeds Are the Best

Our flower and vegetable seeds are beautifully packaged little packets of magic. Guaranteed to turn your garden into the envy of the neighborhood. Get your hands dirty and let nature simply do its thing.

How to Plant Asters from Seed

When to Plant Seeds

  • Indoors: Start seeds 6-8 weeks before the last frost for early blooms.
  • Outdoors: Sow seeds after the last frost when the soil temperature reaches 65°F.

Seed Preparation

  • Soak seeds in warm water for a few hours before planting to improve germination.
  • No stratification is needed, but a light layer of fine soil helps retain moisture.

Direct Sowing Outdoors

  1. Prepare the soil by loosening and amending it with compost.
  2. Sow seeds 1/8 inch deep and lightly cover with soil.
  3. Keep the area moist until germination occurs.
  4. Thin seedlings to 12-18 inches apart once they develop true leaves.
  5. Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost, spacing them 12-18 inches apart.

Starting Seeds Indoors

  1. Fill seed trays with moist, well-draining seed-starting mix.
  2. Scatter seeds on the soil surface, covering lightly with 1/8 inch of soil.
  3. Keep trays at a temperature of 65-70°F.
  4. Provide bright indirect light or use grow lights.
  5. Water lightly to keep the soil moist but not soggy.
  6. Expect germination in 7-14 days.

Pro Tip

Harvest when flowers are fully open for the best vase life. Use sharp scissors or pruning shears to cut stems early in the morning when temperatures are cool. Place stems in fresh water immediately after cutting. Change water daily to extend the lifespan of the blooms.

The Story Behind This Packet

Aster seeds have been part of the Shido lineup since the collection first opened, grown into a late-season daisy-shaped bloomer that fills the garden with color just as everything else is quitting for the year. Every packet is illustrated in the style of early-1900s Japanese woodblock printing, drawn in-house rather than licensed, which means the artwork on this packet exists nowhere else. The seeds themselves are hermetically vacuum-sealed, a packaging choice that has as much to do with the garden as the growing does: a standard paper packet starts losing viability within about a year, while a vacuum seal holds that line for years longer, so the packet in a drawer is still a packet worth planting whenever the moment actually arrives. Shido treats the seed itself as worth that extra step, on the theory that a gardener who buys aster seeds deserves a packet that is still viable whenever they finally get around to using it, not just the season they bought it.

What it's used for

1. Ornamental Gardening:

  • China asters bring bright, showy colors to flower beds, borders, and container gardens.
  • They are ideal for mass plantings, cottage gardens, and mixed flower displays.

2. Cut Flowers & Floral Arrangements:

  • China asters are widely used in bouquets and floral decorations due to their long vase life.
  • Their sturdy stems make them perfect for fresh and dried flower arrangements.

3. Pollinator & Beneficial Insect Attraction:

  • Asters provide late-season nectar for pollinators, helping support bee and butterfly populations.

4. Companion Planting:

  • Pair well with zinnias, marigolds, snapdragons, and cosmos for vibrant flower beds.
  • Help deter some pests by attracting beneficial insects.
Growth Requirements

Light:

  • Prefer full sun (6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily).
  • Can tolerate partial shade, but too much shade may reduce flowering.

Soil:

  • Require well-drained, fertile soil enriched with compost or organic matter.
  • Grow best in soil with a pH of 5.5-7.5.

Watering:

  • Need consistent moisture, especially during germination and flowering.
  • Avoid overwatering to prevent fungal diseases.

Temperature & Climate:

  • Thrive in moderate to warm temperatures (65-75°F).
  • Not frost-tolerant; plant after the last frost in spring.

Fertilization:

  • Apply a balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) at planting and once more during the growing season.
  • Avoid excessive nitrogen, as it can promote foliage growth at the expense of flowers.
Maintenance

Mulching:

  • Apply mulch around plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
  • Helps keep the roots cool during hot weather.

Deadheading & Pruning:

  • Remove spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming.
  • Cut back plants in late fall after flowering to maintain tidy growth.

Staking Tall Varieties:

  • Some taller varieties may require staking to prevent bending.
  • Use bamboo stakes or garden supports as needed.

Disease & Pest Prevention:

  • Ensure good air circulation to prevent fungal diseases.
  • Rotate crops annually to reduce soil-borne pathogens.
Pests and Diseases

Pests:

  • Aphids: Cause leaf curling; spray with insecticidal soap.
  • Spider Mites: Tiny pests that cause yellow speckling; use neem oil.
  • Leafhoppers: Spread diseases; control with row covers or organic insecticides.

Diseases:

  • Fusarium Wilt: Causes yellowing and wilting; prevent with crop rotation.
  • Powdery Mildew: White powdery coating on leaves; treat with fungicides.
  • Root Rot: Occurs in overly wet conditions; improve drainage and avoid overwatering.

Growing Together with Shido

At Shido, everything we do starts with one goal: helping you have a truly successful growing experience. We know that planting seeds is just the beginning — your time, energy, and love for gardening are the real magic. That’s why we make sure the seeds you plant are fresh, full of life, and top-quality. When you choose Shido, you’re planting with confidence. We guarantee it.

Our mission is simple: bring you exceptional varieties of high-quality seeds at prices you’ll love, share detailed sowing and growing tips so you can thrive as a home gardener, and deliver the best customer service in the industry — with a smile.

Our Seed Safety Promise

We do not sell genetically modified seeds — ever. And we don’t use genetic engineering to breed new varieties. Instead, our skilled breeders use traditional, natural crossing methods to create hybrid seeds that are healthy, safe, and packed with potential.

Our Seed Quality Guarantee

At Shido, we believe great gardens start with great seeds — and that means quality comes first. Every seed lot we offer is ensure to generate top-notch germination because your garden deserves nothing less.

To keep our seeds at their peak, we run thorough pathology tests at trusted outside labs. When you open a Shido seed packet, you can trust it’s been nurtured, tested, and approved to give you strong, healthy plants from the very first sprout.

Types of Seeds We Offer

Hybrid Seeds (F1)

F1 hybrid seeds are the garden’s high achievers — created by crossing two specially chosen parent plants for superior vigor, uniformity, and performance. We use only traditional breeding methods to produce these powerhouse seeds.

Open-Pollinated & Heirloom Seeds

Our open-pollinated (OP) seeds naturally reproduce through wind, insects, water, or self-pollination. When grown in isolation, they produce true-to-type plants year after year.

Among our OP seeds are treasured heirloom varieties — old favorites that have been carefully passed down for generations. While OP plants can be less uniform than hybrids, we run our Open-Pollinated Project to select the most reliable, flavorful, and beautiful strains. Many are also available as certified organic seeds.

Non-GMO: What It Means and Why It Matters

A GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) is created when scientists alter a plant’s DNA in a lab — often by inserting genes from completely unrelated species — to achieve certain traits, like pest resistance or herbicide tolerance. This is a far cry from natural plant breeding.

At Shido, we believe gardening should stay as close to nature as possible. All our seeds — whether hybrid, heirloom, organic, or open-pollinated — are Non-GMO. They’re bred using traditional methods that respect natural biodiversity, giving you safe, wholesome seeds that grow into plants just as nature intended.

When you plant Shido Non-GMO seeds, you’re choosing purity, sustainability, and peace of mind — along with a garden full of flavor, color, and beauty.

Vacuum-Sealed for Freshness — Good for 10 Years

Every Shido seed packet isvacuum-sealedto lock in freshness and protect your seeds from moisture, air, and pests. This careful packaging not only preserves their quality but also extends their shelf life dramatically. Stored properly in a cool, dry place, our seeds remain viable for up to10 years— so you can plant them now, next season, or even years down the road. Whether you’re planning a garden this spring or building a long-term seed stash, Shido seeds are ready when you are

Colorful Shido seed packets with tomato illustrations on a soil background | Chive

More From the Shido Garden

Every Shido variety belongs to a wider garden of vacuum-sealed packets, each illustrated in-house. If aster suits your garden, Big Flower Coreopsis offers a related but distinct character worth growing alongside it.


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