![China aster (Callistephus chinensis).[Credits : El Denis Conrado]](http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/52/125852-003-0D063D80.gif)
(Callistephus chinensis), herbaceous plant of the aster family (Asteraceae, also called Compositae), many cultivated varieties of which are longtime garden favourites. The native species from China is 75 cm (2.5 feet) tall, with white to violet flowers having yellow centres. The cultivated varieties vary in height from 20 cm to 1 m (8 inches to 3 feet) tall. The flower heads, up to 12 cm (about 5 inches) across, are often totally composed of petallike ray flowers; they range in colour from white and pale yellow to pink, rose, red, blue, purple, and violet.
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