Chrysanthemums, nicknamed “mums,” are a colorful addition to any fall bouquet. They often bloom last and provide an added burst of color before the end of winter arrives!
Mums are an endlessly versatile plant that can be used to create a variety of different floral arrangements. From the frilly pompoms and dainty daisies, mums come in all colors imaginable with white being one example among many others!
Mums are a great way to add color and life into any garden. They come in all shapes and sizes, so you’re bound to find one that works for your needs! Mums can be used as bedding plants, or planted at the bottom of borders too – they will attract butterflies during fall time.
Chrysanthemums are a beautiful and ancient flower, first cultivated in China as far back as the 15th century. They can be small flowers that measure just one inch, or they could have large dinner plates-sized blossoms!
Either way, when you look at these lovely little plants they will always be able to brighten up any day with their sweet scent!
Designing With Mums
Mums are an important part of many gardeners and florists alike. There’s the ever-popular “garden mum,” which is tough enough for outdoor planting in most parts of this country, but there also exist those who prefer something more delicate like a flower pot on their kitchen countertop or office desk–the type known as “florist” mums if you will
For the Thanksgiving guests who are coming over this year, why not spruce up your house with a blooming plant? All you need to do is head out into the floral section of any grocery store and grab some foil wrapped pots full of chrysanthemums.
They make great decorations because they can live for years without needing much attention.
Growing Mums
Chrysanthemums are a type of flower that grow from 1′ to 3′ tall and have an even breadth. The average height is 2′.
When and Where to Plant Mums
Planting your spring or fall garden with a mum is the best way to make sure that it looks great all year round. You can plant chrysanthemums in late summer and treat them like annuals if you want more color on these longer days!
Mums are a plant that produce flowers in full sun. Giving them too little sunlight will result in weak plants with few blooms, so it’s important for mum growers to give these flowers enough light!
Mums are happiest in rich, well-drained soil. Add compost or other organic material like leaves when planting to give your mum the best shot at being strong and healthy plants!
Caring for Mums
If you want to prolong the life of your water chrysanthemums, make sure they get plenty of moisture.
A tricky part about growing these plants is that their roots are shallow and thirsty so when it’s hot outside or there isn’t much rain in summertime then watering them daily becomes crucial for survival!
Mulch is the way to keep soil cool, moister and more easily workable.
Pruning chrysanthemums is an easy way to make the plant branch and bloom more profusely. Clip off about one inch of your stem tops, two or three times per season for best results!
Stop pruning in June, otherwise you won’t get flowers for the fall.
Mums are the perfect plant for new flower beds. You can divide mums after they’ve grown a little bit in spring and give you some more space, without having to do anything else besides thinning them periodically!
It’s important to stake tall varieties of mums when they’re in bloom.
New growth comes from the roots, but you should remove old foliage after it’s frosted for safety reasons.
Pests and Diseases
Chrysanthemums can get leaf spot, powdery mildew and viruses like mosaic or stunt. The best way to avoid disease is prevention! Do not crowd chrysanthemum plants in shade where moisture will remain on their leaves; give them plenty of air too!
Mums are susceptible to the usual array of bugs: aphids, caterpillars and spider mites. Rabbits and deer usually don’t eat them, but they will if you have blueberry bushes!
Recommended Varieties
Clara Curtis
Clara Curtis is a tough, old-fashioned chrysanthemum flower that has pink daisy like blooms with golden centers. The flowers are usually around 2″ to 3″ in diameter and make for great passalong plants!
Homecoming
“Homecoming” is the perfect fall flower for your special event. With its giant peach-colored blooms on 3 foot stalks, you will be sure to get someone’s attention when this beautiful bouquet makes an appearance!
Ruby Mound
‘Ruby Mound’ is a hardy garden mum with lush sprays of big, ruby-red semi double flowers. The plant can grow up to three feet tall and wide!
Fireglow Bronze
The petals of this flower are so beautiful, they’ll make your heart sing! The fiery red color is offset by lighter gold centers.
Garden Design Suggestions
Mums are perfect for containers because they have a shallow root system. Replace summer annuals with blooming mums that you can find in the fall and tuck them into beds or borders so that their color keeps coming until frost time.
Plant chrysanthemums in swaths or clumps of the same color and variety. They come back each fall with more flowers, making them perfect for planting early spring through late autumn when you want an instant burst of life that’s sure to liven up any space!
These beautiful, late-season bloomers will bring a smile to your face when they get their chance. Pair them with other similar plants like sedum and goldenrod for an interesting border or use these in the middle of sunny borders that need more green!
Note: Even though the Mums plant is not toxic to cats, dogs or horses itself there are chemicals in this herb which can be hazardous if ingested. Make sure you keep your pet away from any part of it because they might think these treats taste good!