How to Grow Chrysanthemum and Care Tips for Mums

Chrysanthemum Flowers – 

Chrysanthemums commonly referred to as mums, are the highlight of autumnal gardens. They often bloom the last before the first frost, sending your garden into the deep sleep of winter with a final splash of color.

Mums come in a wide variety of species, types, and hybrids, and their blooms can be as frothy as a cheerleader pompom or as delicate as a daisy. White, yellow, orange, lavender, purple, red, and bicolor are just a few of the many colors available for Chrysanthemum. They can be utilized in beds, borders, and containers and are simple to grow. They are beautiful cut flowers that can last up to two weeks in a bouquet and draw butterflies in the fall.

Chrysanthemums are historic flowers that have been grown in China since the fifteenth century. Flowers can range in size from a quarter to a dinner plate.

Although Chrysanthemums are technically perennials, they are frequently grown as annuals. When and where you get them are critical factors in their survival. Perennial mums include garden mums and hardy Chrysanthemum. Chrysanthemums for cutting are perennials in Zones 5 to 9, and varieties include spider mums and football mums.

Then there are the annual mums, such as the painted daisy (Chrysanthemum tricolor) and yellow daisy (Chrysanthemum multicaule). They are grown as indoor plants because they are not cold-resistant.

Make sure you are purchasing the appropriate mum for your needs. In the grocery store’s floral department, purchase the foil-wrapped pot of chrysanthemums. Want a mum plant in your yard that will last for years? Purchase a mum from a garden or nursery center that is appropriate for outdoor use.

16 Different Chrysanthemum In 8 Key Categories

Each category has two Chrysanthemum, with the most “typical” as well as the most aesthetically pleasing being chosen.

Here are 16 different varieties of chrysanthemums you might want to plant in your yard.

Single Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemums in the single-mum variety are quite popular. They have a flat center with many petals encircling a big central disk. They have a daisy-like appearance and are attractive to pollinators.

1. ‘Bolero’ Single Mum

‘Bolero’ is a cultivar of a single mum that is a lovely golden yellow color. From late summer into the fall, it produces a ring that is filled with the richest and coziest golden blossoms. The disks are yellow, just like this warm and brilliant beauty’s fine ray petals.

It’s a great option for margins and beds, particularly if you want a plant that will provide life and brightness while yet maintaining a cozy, fall, or pre-autumnal atmosphere. It works well in formal gardens as well.

2. ‘Clara Curtis’ Single Mum

This solitary cultivar is incredibly romantic and is also known as “garden mum “Clara Curtis.” Its long, papery petals are exceedingly fragile and have vivid, almost pastel pink hues. The petals have subtle grooves running down them, giving them a more “paper texture” appearance.

A striking contrast is provided by the disk’s vivid lemon-yellow tint.

This is a nice option for a private area of your garden. Thanks to the vibrant colors and dazzling yellow, which, when contrasted with the dark foliage, appears to be an early season explosion of passion, it has that “spring romance” sense.

Pompom Chrysanthemum

Pompon Chrysanthemum has tiny, spherical blossoms that are distinctive for their size and form. They resemble some dahlias and are extremely ornamental. Each petal has curls at the sides, and the petals are likewise arranged in a pretty regular pattern.

‘Yoko Ono’ Pompon Mum 

The ‘Yoko Ono’ pompon, which is named after John Lennon’s well-known wife, is just as eye-catching and distinctive as she is. In actuality. This cultivar features all the flawless, tiny, spherical flower heads typical of this group. But it’s also really creative.

In reality, the blossoms are a vibrant green. This is a great option for a patio or garden with a contemporary appearance.

Additionally, it will appear unique and sculptural in lovely containers. ‘Yoko Ono’ is the chrysanthemum you’ve been seeking if you want a flower to represent the phrase “I am different”.

‘Moonbeam’ Pompon Mum

One of the most exquisite chrysanthemums available is the “Moonbeam” pompon mum. For this category, its flowers are very big and spherical.

But the whiteness of the petals is what stands out! They appear like snow because they are so frank.

Because of the regular petals, the overall appearance is both delicate and sculptural. The chrysanthemum variety “Moonbeam” is ideal for use in formal gardens or other settings. It will look fantastic in urban, gravel, and container gardens.

But it will also adapt if you have a casual garden. And ‘Moonbeam’ is ideal for a white landscape that needs a late bloom.

Cushion Chrysanthemum

Low-growing cushion Chrysanthemum have a thick, bushy appearance. They differ from other mums in their growing habits, which makes them ideal for low flowerbeds.

‘Chiffon’ Cushion Mum

Mum’s “Chiffon” pillow is also well-titled. Very few flowers, like these chrysanthemums, perfectly capture the “soft comfort” of chiffon. They feature double, “feathery” looking flowers. The petals do appear to be delicate and velvety. They come in a variety of colors, from ivory to dark salmon/coral pink with a hint of yellow. This species is great for creating a gentle, romantic garden. Because the blooms resemble those used in wedding bouquets and appear “ancient” and “traditional,” they are more suited for informal flower beds.

‘Ruby Mound’ Cushion Mum

The chrysanthemum’s mum’s name, “Ruby Mound,” says it all. This type has a sluggish growth rate and spreads out laterally as opposed to vertically.

However, what will catch your attention is the intense ruby color of the double blossoms on this cultivar. It’s one of the richest reds you’ve ever seen in a flower!

If you want to give your flower beds a burst of ferocious energy and intense, old-world passion, this kind of mum is a great choice. Both formal and casual gardens can benefit from it, and pots can also benefit greatly.

Read More – Green Flowers That Will Amuse Your Garden | Types of Flowers

Anemone Chrysanthemum

A huge, round, and elevated central disk surrounded by short, frequently shaggy-looking petals makes anemone mums easy to identify.

They stand out among many other chrysanthemums because of this. They typically also have big flower heads.

‘Daybreak’ Anemone Mum

The central disk of an anemone mum is huge, spherical, and elevated, and it is encircled by short petals that frequently have a shaggy appearance.

By doing so, they stand out from a lot of chrysanthemums in appearance. Large flower heads are also characteristic of them.

The ‘Anderton’ Anemone Mother

An eye-catching, ornamental, almost sculptural variety of chrysanthemum is called a “Anderton” anemone mum. It actually has a very conventional shape in contrast to “Daybreak,” with open and hardly bent ray flower petals, while the elevated disk is made up of typical tubular petals. It is a really noticeable brilliant warm yellow tint, so you can’t miss it!

This cultivar works well in both formal and casual settings. It is a very colorful flower, and because of its big, vividly colored blossoms, it adds a lot of light and life to flower beds, borders, and containers.

Spider Chrysanthemum

The chrysanthemums known as “spider mums” are named appropriately because of their long, thin, and occasionally partially curled petals, which somewhat resemble spiders.

They have a very unique appearance and are quite decorative. They might not be the most popular right now, but their appeal is rising.

‘Symphony’ Spider Mum

The Symphony Spider Mum is quite beautiful. On the exterior of the flower, it has lengthy lobes at the bottom that resemble rays.

They then get shorter and shorter as you get closer to the center, giving the impression of a flat disk, a halo, or a spider with numerous legs. The very extremities of the petals are twisted, resembling hooks. This kind has curled hooks that are frequently lighter-colored and come in warm colors.

It is an ornamental species that would look wonderful in unstructured borders or beds and even in an old-fashioned country garden.

Given its original design, it might, nevertheless, also fit in a formal garden in the appropriate situation.

 ‘Chesapeake’ Spider Mum

The Chesapeake spider mum has to be among the most tasteful chrysanthemums available. It features numerous rows of extremely long, thin, and white petals, with the longest petals at the borders.

As they spread out, the petals slant backward and downward before curling inward like violin handles.

They resemble a spider or possibly a web made of spiders. This cultivar is incredibly elegant and would look great in a sophisticated garden, stylish pot, or high-end terrace.

Given its attractive qualities, it shines best on its own or in contrast to a different-colored wall or grave.

Spoon Chrysanthemum

The name “spoon chrysanthemum” refers to the way these mums’ petals are shaped. Single, semi-double, or (less frequently) double types are available.

Consequently, you may occasionally see the core disk. Frequently, you won’t. The petals of a spoon mum, however, always start small at the base before spreading out to resemble — you got it — a spoon!

‘Starlet’ Spoon Mum

‘Starlet’, a cultivar of spoon mums, is extremely lovely. It is. A semi-double variation with a central disk that is easily seen and a pair of ray petals.

It can range from pale yellow to orange-yellow and is rather modest in comparison to the size of the petals.

For this kind of mum, the petals generally have the traditional spoon form. They can be a shade of yellow, orange, or antique rose.

In both informal and formal gardens, “Starlet” is a great choice for borders and beds. The blooms are abundant and almost entirely cover the plants. They work well for pots and other containers as well.

‘Happy Face’ Spoon Mum

The spoon mum known as “Happy Face” has a highly cheery aspect. Although relatively small, the core disks are still discernible.

On the opposite hand, the spoon-shaped petals are additionally very thin and long, giving the overall appearance of lightness and airiness.

The intensely yellow ones may resemble little suns or stars. The white flowers are equally lovely.

In casual or even formal beds, borders, or containers, it will look fantastic. Your garden or porch will receive a lot of light, life, and a carefully woven texture from it. It is very classy and airy.

Quill Chrysanthemum

In several ways, quill mums resemble sea urchins. Their long, thin, straight petals twisted up into a lengthy tubular shape, not straight and long.

They become exceedingly graceful and light as a result. The ray petals do indeed resemble rays, or more precisely, spikes or quills!

‘Anastasia White’ Quill Mum

The “Anastasia White” quill mum is an extremely striking variety of chrysanthemum. Its petals are the most frank, in fact, ethereal white you’ve ever seen, and their general shape is that of a flattened globe. It exudes an unmistakable yet extremely honest presence.

It may in some ways make you think of a ghost or an odd lunar presence within your yard.

It goes without saying that “Anastasia White” is the ideal plant for a white garden, but because of its huge individual blooms, it also thrives in almost any environment. 

‘Patricia Grace’ Quill Mum

It features long, thin petals that resemble beautiful wires with a little spike-like appearance. The petals are the most beautiful color of pastel rose pink, faded to an off-white blush of pink at the tips.

For you, that is grace and elegance in a flower. In a garden, where you wish to combine romanticism and elegance, it works perfectly.

Thanks to its highly straight and mathematically attractive petals, it can also be used in settings where you want to balance formality and romance.

Decorative Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemums with exceptionally spectacular flower heads that bloom on relatively short stalks are known as decorative mums. They may have flat or curved petals, but they are always very brightly colored, frequently with eye-catching contrasts.

‘Indian Summer’ Decorative Mum

‘Indian Summer’ ornamental mums are easy to spot in gardens. The heads of flowers are enormous, spherical, and colored in the most vivid, warm, and brilliant orange hues imaginable.

They appear as solitary flowers on erect stalks that rise slightly above the mostly dark green but occasionally purple-blue foliage.

Because of this, the petals stand out more, like blazing fall light balloons on a black sea.

Even in an elegant garden, you can use this superb species to fill an entire flower bed. Wherever you plant it, it will draw attention from guests and emerge as the main attraction in your garden.

‘Coral Charm’ Decorative Mum

A distinctive chrysanthemum is the “Coral Charm” decorative mum. It produces enormous spherical flower heads with petals that are flawlessly curled and somewhat pointed.

They are closely packed in the flower and are reasonably evenly spaced, albeit not exactly regular.

However, I haven’t yet shown you this flower’s incredible quality. The flower has coral pink and vivid magenta pink parts! These two hues are grouped in regions on the petals, yet they never blend on just one petal.

Given its distinctive appearance, this mum is perfect for a unique garden. The ideal environment for it would be a “garden room” for entertainment that was rather formal, extremely sculptural, and rhythmic.

How To Take Care Of Chrysanthemum

• Chrysanthemums require frequent watering because their shallow root system quickly becomes parched. At the peak during the summer growing season, they may require daily watering if the weather is extremely hot and there is little rain.

• Cover mums with mulch to maintain the soil moisture for longer. If you have a sandy ground or a garden where summers are extremely hot, aim to create a 2-inch-thick layer. Then you may apply mulch up to three inches thick. Plant crowns might benefit from wintertime protection from a good mulch layer.

• Chrysanthemums should be pruned to encourage branching so they grow short and strong rather than lanky and weak. Mums that have been pruned will likewise bloom more profusely. Early in the season, cut off the branch tops by about 1 inch. Then, until midsummer, keep pruning the stem tips every two weeks. Mums grown as perennials don’t require pruning. Twice to three times throughout the growth season, trim the branch tops back by about an inch.

• Hardy mums should be fertilized in the months of spring and autumn before the buds form. If you want to pull and compost your mums once the first frost comes, don’t fertilize them at planting time. 

• Take out any outdated foliage after the first frost. Cut off the faded flowers from mature garden mums. But don’t cut any stems. Through the winter, they support the crown’s defense. Prepare to cut those stems off in the spring. Mulch should be piled 3 to 4 inches high, working its way down among the stems of the plant. Use a material that won’t compact, such as straw or finely chopped bark. As fresh vegetation emerges in the spring, remove the mulch.

• Plant division. Perennial garden mums should be dug out and divided every several years to maintain healthy, vigorous growth. Divide Chrysanthemum in the early spring as soon as new stems grow to avoid reducing the bloom display.