Seed Treatment:
• Cold stratification is recommended: Mix seeds with moist sand or vermiculite, seal in a plastic bag, and refrigerate at 35–40°F (1–4°C) for 2–4 weeks before sowing.
When to Sow:
• Indoors: Start seeds 6–8 weeks before the last frost after stratification.
• Outdoors: Direct sow in fall for natural winter stratification or in early spring after soil can be worked.
Sowing Instructions:
• Surface sow — do not cover the seeds, as they require light to germinate.
• Gently press into moist, well-draining soil.
• Ideal soil temperature for germination: 65–70°F (18–21°C).
• Keep soil consistently moist until seedlings emerge.
• Germination usually occurs in 10–21 days.
Light Requirements:
• Prefers full sun, but will tolerate light shade.
Soil Requirements:
• Grows best in well-draining, sandy or loamy soil.
• Tolerates poor, dry soils once established.
• pH range: 6.0–7.5.
Watering:
• Keep soil evenly moist during germination and establishment.
• Once established, Heath Aster is drought-tolerant and only needs occasional watering.
Spacing:
• Thin or transplant seedlings to 12–18 inches (30–45 cm) apart.
Growing Tips:
• Produces clouds of small white daisy-like flowers in late summer to fall.
• Excellent for wildflower gardens, prairies, pollinator habitats, and borders.
• Attracts bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.
• Hardy perennial in USDA Zones 3–10.