Callistephus chinensis 'Bonita Pink' – Beautiful Double Pompon Asters

Callistephus chinensis 'Bonita Pink' is a stunning aster beloved for its fully double, pompom-like flowers in a soft, romantic shade of pink. This variety offers both ornamental value in the garden and high-quality cut flower production, making it a versatile choice for gardeners, growers, and florists.

Features of Bonita Pink

• Fully double pompom flowers: Bonita Pink produces densely filled, rounded blooms that create a luxurious appearance. The flowers retain their shape and color even as they age, ensuring they remain decorative for a long time.

• Optimal flower angle: The flowers are positioned at the perfect angle for maximum visual impact, which is especially important for bouquets and mixed borders.

• Large flower size: Bonita Pink's flower size is similar to Matsumoto, making it easy to integrate into existing aster breeding programs.

• Flowering and Growing Time: Bonita Pink has a growing time that is about a week longer than Matsumoto, which allows for an extended flowering period and flexibility in scheduling.

• Fusarium Tolerance: Like Matsumoto, Bonita Pink has a similar tolerance to Fusarium wilt, an important characteristic for healthy and long-lasting cultivation.

Cultivation and care

Asters are susceptible to Fusarium, a fungal disease that can attack roots and stems. The following guidelines are essential for successful cultivation:

• Rotate location: Change location annually to prevent Fusarium buildup in the soil.

• Soil and drainage: Provide well-draining soil and avoid overwatering, as wet conditions increase the risk of root diseases.

• Sowing and planting: Bonita Pink can be pre-sown, after which young plants can be planted outdoors. For continuous flowering, sowing can be done in stages.

• Maintenance: Regular watering without flooding and removing wilted flowers promotes healthy growth and continued flowering.

Use in garden and as cut flower

• Garden and borders: Bonita Pink makes a striking addition to borders, pots, and mixed flowerbeds. The soft pink hue contrasts beautifully with yellow, white, or dark purple flowers.

• Cut flowers: Thanks to its sturdy stems and compact, round flowers, Bonita Pink is ideal for bouquets and arrangements. The flowers retain their shape and color long after cutting.

• Companion Planting: This variety is ideal for breeding programs with Matsumoto and other Bonita varieties.

Benefits of Callistephus chinensis 'Bonita Pink'

• Fully double, pompom-like flowers in a soft pink shade.

• Flowers retain their attractiveness as they age.

• Optimal flower angle for maximum visual impact.

• Cultivation time slightly longer than Matsumoto for staggered flowering.

• Similar Fusarium tolerance as Matsumoto for healthy plants.

• Very suitable for gardens, borders and cut flowers.

Conclusion

Callistephus chinensis 'Bonita Pink' is the perfect aster for anyone looking for a combination of ornamental value, cut flower quality, and ease of cultivation. With its fully double, pompom-like pink flowers, sturdy stems, and long vase life, Bonita Pink is an ideal choice for gardeners, florists, and growers looking to enhance their borders, pots, and bouquets. Add Bonita Pink to your garden or flower arrangements and enjoy long-lasting color and elegance.