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Pick two or three seeds to see how they grow, side by side: sprouting, spacing, sun, water, frost and pet safety in one table.

Comparing Blazing Star vs. Alpine Aster vs. African Daisy

The comparison

Blazing Star vs. Alpine Aster vs. African Daisy

Units
Growing facts for Blazing Star, Alpine Aster and African Daisy, side by side
Fact
Blazing StarLiatris spicata
Alpine AsterAster alpinus
African DaisyOsteospermum ecklonis
DifficultyModerateModerateModerate
Life cyclePerennialPerennialNot yet verified
Germination time20–45 daysNot yet verifiedNot yet verified
Germination temperatureNot yet verifiedNot yet verified18 °C64 °F
Spacing between plants30–38 cm12–15 inNot yet verifiedNot yet verified
SunFull sun, partial shadeFull sunFull sun
WaterNot yet verifiedNot yet verifiedLow
ContainersNot yet verifiedYesYes
Frost toleranceHardyHardyHalf-hardy (light frost)
Links
How to grow blazing starRemove blazing star
How to grow alpine asterRemove alpine aster
How to grow african daisyRemove african daisy

Up close

Meet the seeds

What each one is, in a few lines, with the full growing guide one click away.

  • Blazing star plants with dense purple flower spikes growing in a garden bed among green foliageFlowers

    Blazing Star

    Liatris spicata

    Difficulty: Moderate

    Blazing star (Liatris spicata) is a hardy native perennial with spikes of purple, pink or white flowers. It grows from seed in full sun but may take two or three years to bloom.

    How to grow blazing star
  • Alpine aster flowers with lilac petals and yellow centres growing among grass in a meadowFlowers

    Alpine Aster

    Aster alpinus

    Difficulty: ModerateGrows in pots

    Alpine aster is a clump-forming perennial with violet daisy-like flowers, about 4 to 20 inches (10 to 50 cm) tall, that grows in full sun and well-drained soil and is hardy.

    How to grow alpine aster
  • White African daisy with purple centre growing among orange flowers in a garden bedFlowers

    African Daisy

    Osteospermum ecklonis

    Difficulty: ModerateGrows in pots

    Osteospermum ecklonis, the African daisy, is an evergreen shrub with daisy flowers that have dark blue centres and white-to-indigo petals. It likes full sun and can be sown in spring at 18 °C (64 °F).

    How to grow african daisy

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The table, row by row

How to read a comparison

Every row is a fact from each seed's own profile, lined up so the differences stand out.

  1. Sprouting

    Germination time and temperature

    How many days the seeds take to sprout, and the temperature range they sprout in.

  2. Sowing

    Sowing depth and spacing

    How deep to sow each seed and how far apart the plants should grow. “On the surface” means the seed isn't covered.

  3. Timing

    Days to maturity and life cycle

    How long until the plant is ready, counted from sowing or from transplanting (each value says which). Annuals live one year, biennials two, perennials longer.

  4. Light and water

    Sun and water

    Full sun means 6 or more hours of direct sun a day, partial shade a few hours. Water needs are rated low, moderate or high.

  5. Space and weather

    Containers, frost tolerance and soil pH

    Whether it grows in a pot, with the smallest pot when it's known. Frost tolerance runs from tender (no frost) to hardy. Soil pH 7 is neutral.

  6. Pets

    Toxicity to cats and dogs

    Whether the plant is toxic to cats and dogs.

Quick wins

Fastest to sprout

Days from sowing until the first shoots appear, in good conditions.

Pet friendly

Safe around cats and dogs

Listed as non-toxic to both cats and dogs. Each seed's page has the details.

Not safe for pets: borage, buckwheat, caraway, carnation and 14 more.

Comparing

Questions about comparing

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Two or three at a time. Pick them in the boxes at the top, or start from any seed's page with “Compare with another seed”.
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Where do the facts come from?
From each seed's profile. Every fact there is researched and reviewed by our editors before it goes live.
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Each seed's page explains how to grow it from seed, with facts researched and reviewed by our editors.

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