Aster Kickin® Carmine Red

KICKIN® Carmine Red is a compact, bushy aster with carmine to magenta-red flowers and bright yellow centers from late summer into fall. It provides vivid color in a sunny border and also suits large containers or cutting gardens. [Greenleaf Nursery](https://www.greenleafnursery.com/Plant/KICKINR-CARMINE-REDTM-ASTER-PPAF) lists the exact cultivar as Aster dumosus 'Carmine Red' at 24–36 inches tall and wide; [Perennials.com](https://www.perennials.com/plants/aster-dumosus-kickin-carmine-red.html) and [Sooner Plant Farm](https://www.soonerplantfarm.com/plant/aster-kickin-carmine-red) give a similar 23–35 inch or 2–3 foot mature range. ### Placement and color Plant in full sun with well-drained soil and enough room for a rounded mound. The flowers read as deep red to magenta, with the yellow centers providing a clear contrast. Cultivar-specific listings identify it as *Aster dumosum*; broader KICKIN series pages sometimes use New England aster names, so check the cultivar label when matching a particular plant. ### Garden value The [Perennials.com profile](https://www.perennials.com/plants/aster-dumosus-kickin-carmine-red.html) identifies the selection as bred by Kientzler and says pinching before July keeps plants especially low. Sooner Plant Farm reports strong powdery mildew resistance and butterfly interest. Published mature-size ranges span about 23–36 inches, and pinching can keep plants shorter. ## Maintenance Water consistently during establishment, then water during prolonged dry periods. Pinch stems before July if a shorter mound is preferred. Remove old stems after flowering or in early spring, and divide mature clumps if they become crowded.