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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 Linaria vs. Alpine Aster vs. Ageratum

The comparison

Linaria vs. Alpine Aster vs. Ageratum

Units
Growing facts for Linaria, Alpine Aster and Ageratum, side by side
Fact
LinariaLinaria maroccana
Alpine AsterAster alpinus
AgeratumAgeratum houstonianum
DifficultyModerateModerateEasy
Life cycleAnnualPerennialAnnual
Germination timeNot yet verifiedNot yet verified7–21 days
Germination temperatureNot yet verifiedNot yet verified24–27 °C75–81 °F
Sowing depthNot yet verifiedNot yet verifiedOn the surface
SunFull sun, partial shadeFull sunFull sun, partial shade
WaterModerateNot yet verifiedModerate
ContainersNot yet verifiedYesYes
Frost toleranceHardyHardyTender (no frost)
Links
How to grow linariaRemove linaria
How to grow alpine asterRemove alpine aster
How to grow ageratumRemove ageratum

Up close

Meet the seeds

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

  • Linaria maroccana magenta flowers with yellow throats growing on a stem in a gardenFlowers

    Linaria

    Linaria maroccana

    Difficulty: Moderate

    Linaria is a cool-weather annual with snapdragon-like flowers that grows in full sun. It blooms in spring and early summer and tends to fade in summer heat.

    How to grow linaria
  • 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
  • Ageratum fluffy lavender flower clusters on green stems with broad leavesFlowers

    Ageratum

    Ageratum houstonianum

    Difficulty: EasyGrows in pots

    Ageratum is a frost-tender annual with fluffy blue, pink or white flower clusters that is usually started from seed indoors about 8 to 10 weeks before the last spring frost.

    How to grow ageratum

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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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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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