Olenka

Aster 'Olenka' – a bright annual plant, reaching a height of 55–65 cm. The inflorescences are large, up to 12 cm in diameter, hemispherical in shape, covered with double buds of lavender-pink color with long needle-like petals. The flower resembles a star, which is reflected in the name 'aster' – an ancient Greek word for 'star'. The plant attracts attention with its rich coloration and fullness, making it ideal for cutting, as well as for decorating flower beds, group plantings, or single compositions.

The flowering period begins in July-August and continues until the first October frosts. Aster 'Olenka' tolerates partial shade well, but prefers brightly lit areas. The soil should be light, fertile, and drained; neutral or slightly acidic soil is preferred. The plant is grown from seedlings: seeds are sown in February-April at a depth of 5 mm at a soil temperature of +20 °C, after seedlings appear they are pricked out and develop at +13–15 °C. At the end of May, the seedlings are transplanted into the garden bed with a distance between plants of 25–30 cm.

'Olenka' is a hybrid variety of medium flowering duration, which is often used in landscape design and floristics due to its bright coloration and large inflorescences. It is suitable for creating neat rows on rabatok, group plantings in combined flower beds, as well as for decorating mixed borders and alpine hills. Due to its versatility in relation to light and resistance to moderate frosts (USDA 7), the plant easily fits into various landscape styles and compositions.