Chrysanthemum is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants in the Asteraceae family native to Asia.
Commonly known as “mums,” these plants grow in full sun to part shade with rich, moist, slightly acidic, well-draining soil. Bloom times vary from late summer to late fall.
The flower heads consist of center disk florets surrounded by ray florets, which are usually referred to as petals. They range from one to eight inches in diameter in colors including burgundy, orange, pink, purple, yellow, red, and white.
Mature dimensions of the plants are 12 to 36 inches with a spread of 12 to 48 inches.
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In the fall, farmers’ markets and grocery stores offer decorative “florist” mums, intended to be grown as holiday decor and disposed of after flowering.
These plants have precisely rounded forms and few “stolons,” or horizontal runners. They are hardy in Zones 7 to 9, and gardeners elsewhere grow them as annuals.
Nurseries carry hardy or “garden” mums in the spring for potting up or planting out in the garden. These are the chrysanthemums commonly grown in the landscape and are hardy in Zones 4 to 9.
Both florist and garden mums are Chrysanthemum x morifolium hybrids. The ones we see at the store have shortened petals with a flattened appearance classified as “Decorative.”
Other types are generally grown commercially for the cut flower industry or exhibited at botanical gardens.
Our guide to growing chrysanthemums has all you need to know to grow and care for these plants in your landscape.
This guide discusses 13 classifications the National Chrysanthemum Society have established to promote the genus, support growers, and set international standards for competitive cultivation.
Here’s the lineup:
There are approximately 20,000 cultivated varieties of chrysanthemums worldwide.
“Spray” types have multiple blossoms per stem, while “standard” varieties have a single bloom.
Growers encourage plants to produce one large flower per stem with a technique called “disbudding,” which involves removing the side shoots of a spray to produce a single bloom on the main stem.
In China, the chrysanthemum is one of the “Four Gentlemen,” or “Four Noble Plants.” It symbolizes vitality, tenacity, prosperity, and happiness. Yellow varieties feature prominently in New Year’s celebrations.
It is Japan’s national flower, representing longevity, luck, and nobility, and is displayed prominently during the early autumn Festival of Happiness.
The chrysanthemum is one of the “Four Gracious Plants” of Korea, symbolizing luck, longevity, and joy. It is a popular flower for arrangements and festivals.
Here in the United States, this autumn showstopper is a staple in landscape decor featuring a harvest theme complete with pumpkins, haystacks, corn stalks, and brilliant foliage.
The National Chrysanthemum Society has organized garden types based on the physical attributes of the flowers. Let’s explore each class:
1. Irregular Incurve
Irregular incurves have six- to eight-inch flowers atop four-foot stalks, and these are the largest of all the varieties.
Most petals curve upward, obscuring the center, while the outermost ones dangle loosely like a skirt.
They are well-known in botanical garden circles and among international competitors who undertake the challenge of creating an “ozukuri,” or “thousand blooms” display in which they train one stem to produce a dome of evenly spaced blossoms. It is a spectacular sight to see!
Specialty growers “disbud” the plants, removing all side shoots to achieve a sturdy single stem with one bloom.
Plants may reach two feet tall and require staking. Bloom time is mid-fall.
2. Reflex
Reflex forms have overlapping petals that curve downward and resemble layered bird feathers. The blossoms have slightly flattened tops and measure four to six inches across.
Plants are grown as “disbuds” that reach a height of three to four feet and bloom in early fall.
3. Regular Incurve
Regular incurve types have compact flower heads with rounded petals that curve inward to create a dense sphere.
They measure four to six inches across on stems up to three feet tall.
Cultivars in this category are often called football mums. They bloom in mid-fall, and require staking. Disbudding yields one bloom per stem.
4. Decorative
Decorative types have upper petals that curve upward and lower petals that bend backward.
These are the most common types sold as florist varieties for growing as annuals as well as the perennial garden types for the landscape.
Florets measure one to four inches across, depending on the cultivar. Mature heights are one to three feet. Bloom time is early to late season.
The Hardy Fall Mums Variety Pack contains two chrysanthemum in containers measuring 12 inches in diameter and 10 inches tall. Mature heights are one to three feet.
They are suited to cultivation in Zones 5 to 9.
Hardy Fall Mums Variety Pack
Select two yellow, two red, or one red and one yellow.
The Hardy Fall Mums Variety Pack is available from Perfect Plants.
You can also find orange hardy chrysanthemum available from Home Depot in eight-inch grower’s pots.
Intermediate incurves have petals that curve partially for a flattened, spherical effect and looser center.
The blossoms are smaller than the larger incurve specimens, measuring four to six inches. The three- to four-foot-tall stems require support.
Plants are grown as disbuds and bloom early to mid-season.
6. Pompon
Pompons bloom in mid-autumn. The flowers are flat when they open but become completely round as they mature, with no distinguishable center.
Incurve and reflex petals form the rounded shape.
There are sprays with multiple one-inch “button” poms or single-stemmed plants with globular blooms measuring four inches across.
The large single blooms are achieved by disbudding, so if you grow these in the garden the flowers may be smaller.
Pompon varieties do not require staking and are wonderful cutting garden flowers. They bloom mid-season.
7. Single and Semi-Double
Hardy perennial single and semi-doubles are the most daisy-like in appearance, with a center disk surrounded by one to seven rows of rays measuring two to three inches across.
They often appear in cascading floral displays.
Mature heights are one to three feet, and bloom time is mid-autumn.
8. Anemone
Anemone types have a prominent raised center disk like a pincushion surrounded by rays. The flower heads measure two to six inches across.
Anemone types bloom mid-season. Like single and semi-double chrysanthemum, they grow to heights of one to three feet, and will require staking.
9. Spoon
Spoon types have multiple layers of upward-facing, cupped petals resembling spoons surrounding a center disk.
The blossoms are two to four inches across, perch atop two- to three-foot stems, and require no staking. Bloom time is mid-season.
‘Matchsticks’ is a riot of color with yellow petals, the open tips in bright red, providing a bright autumn display.
‘Matchsticks’
You can find ‘Matchsticks’ plants available at Burpee.
10. Quill
Quill varieties are “fully double,” with the most petals of any type of chrysanthemum and a closed center.
The petals are tubular with either a closed, pointed tip or an open one, like the quill of a feather pen.
Quills are generally grown as disbuds. The flowers measure two to six inches across, and mature heights are two to three feet. Bloom time is mid-fall.
11. Spider
Spiders, aka Fujis, have slender, tubular petals with open tips that hook or curl at the ends like the limbs of a gangly arachnid.
Spiders are generally grows as disbuds for cut flower bouquets. Flower heads measure four to six inches across. Plants bloom in mid to late autumn.
12. Brush and Thistle
The petals of brush and thistle types are narrow and thread-like. The flower heads measure two to four inches across.
Some have petals that twist and protrude haphazardly and may reveal the center disk.
Others point upward, parallel to the stem, and slightly fanned out, like an artist’s well-used paintbrush. They bloom in mid-fall.
13. Unusual
Unusual is the catch-all category for flower forms that don’t fit neatly into the other 12 classifications.
These types often exhibit a combination of characteristics or entirely different ones.
Many a Mum
As a floral designer, I’ve worked with varieties ranging from button pompons to hand-sized spiders.
Every October I trek to the local orchard for pots overflowing with russets, yellows, and lavenders.
Whether you enjoy cut stems in a vase, potted annuals for the autumn season, or a yearly flush of perennial color, chrysanthemums have much to offer with their rich palette of colors, forms, and sizes.
How do you enjoy these autumn classics at your house? Please tell us in the comments below.
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