The good news begins the moment you plant the seeds. Unlike earlier varieties, Astra boasts a whopping 90% germination rate, so you get more plants from every packet of seeds. And such lovely plants they are -- compact yet well-branched, reaching 6 to 12 inches high, 6 to 8 inches wide, and just begging to be placed in your best flowerpots, windowboxes, and hanging baskets! Tolerant of full sun or light shade, they grow quickly and are wonderfully consistent across the series for bloomtime and height.
And then the flowers arrive! A full 3 inches across and fully double, they sport thicker petals than older Balloon Flower varieties, which help them stay fresh and attractive even longer. And because the plant is so densely-branched, you can expect a bumper crop of gleaming white, blue, or lavender blooms every summer! The flowers begin with the first warm weather and don't quit till fall, blooming continuously (rather than in waves) for months!
If you like the looks of Astra Double Mix, consider a colorful planting of the whole series -- double blue, double white, and double lavender, plus single blue, pink, and white. Or try the entire series in an economical mix of singles and doubles! Zones 4-9. Pkt is 20 seeds.