About

The Duchess Series features tall varieties, reaching up to 70 cm in height, bearing fully double, incurved flowers reminiscent of chrysanthemums. These blooms are available in shades of red, purple, yellow, and pink, providing vibrant color from midsummer through mid-autumn.

About the genus

Callistephus consists of upright, bushy annual plants characterized by coarsely serrated, oval leaves. These plants produce large, single or double flower heads resembling daisies, which typically bloom in late summer and autumn.

Growing conditions

Sunlight
Full sun
Soil type
Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH
Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moisture
Moist but well-drained
Aspect
West-facing, South-facing
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness
H2

Plant details

Plant type
Annual Biennial
Habit
Bushy
Foliage
Deciduous
Height
0.5-1 metres
Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height
1 year
Suggested uses
Cottage and informal garden, City and courtyard gardens, Patio and container plants, Mediterranean climate plants, Wildlife gardens

Care notes

Cultivation
Grow in a sheltered site in fertile, neutral to alkaline, moist but well-drained soil in full sun. Likely to require staking
Pruning
Deadhead to prolong flowering
Propagation
Propagate by seed sown at 16°C in early spring or in situ in mid-spring
Pest resistance
May be susceptible to aphids and cutworms
Disease resistance
Prone to wilt diseases