Love African daisies but hate having to plant a random mix of colors from seed? We do too, which is why we are so glad to see the Asti series, which offers separate colors so you can design to your heart's content. A very heat- and drought-tolerant variety, Asti is so long-blooming that you may just have to move these plants from the cutting garden to front-and-center in the annual bed.
Purple is a maroon to deep purple-toned variety, all surrounding a handsome dark center. The flowers reach about 2 inches wide, with tightly-spaced petals held straight out on long, wiry stems. Perfect for cutting, these blooms also look good on the plant, thanks to a more compact, tight habit. Expect the flowers to keep coming from early summer all the way into fall, especially if you cut or deadhead the blooms promptly to encourage new bud formation.
Asti White won an All-America Selection award 2008 for its long bloom and great tolerance of heat and drought, and lavender shades boasts the same great flower power and garden strength as purple. In bloom these plants measure 18 to 20 inches high, and they grow about 2 feet wide. Sun-loving and very forgiving of harsh conditions, they deserve a place of honor in your garden.
