| Description | Garden Mums ABC's (Chrysanthemum x moriflium) A colorful group of plants providing fall color in the gardens. Usually grown as an annual in zone #5 but some may survive the winters. |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | Perennial Tender, Site author's observations |
| Hardiness Zone | 4(5)-9, AHS 9-12 |
| Sunlight | full |
| Moisture | average |
| Soil & Site | average to well drained moisture retentive |
| Temperature | In the workshops and classes that I conduct, I will ask the group about their success in growing these plants and if they overwintered. Most of the plants that overwintered were in a garden close to the foundation of the house. I think this is due to the extra heat that comes through the basement walls and the house absorbing heat from the sun in the winter, keeping the soil a bit warmer and improving the chances of the plants overwintering. St. garden mums are tender perennials in Zone 5. The chance of a florist variety mum overwintering in your garden is pretty limited in hardiness zone #5. |
| Flowers | A wide range of colors and flower forms. |
| Roots | fiborus |
| Dimensions | depends on the cultivar |
| Maintenance | Spring is the time to pinch back both newly purchased plants and those that have overwintered. Pinching should be done at the end of May and again at the end of June. This technique encourages a fuller plant with more flowers. Plants that are not pinched tend to grow tall and spindly, resulting in fewer blooms. To improve a plant's chances of survival during the winter, I recommend leaving at least 4 to 6 inches of stem on the plant. This height helps catch snow, which can insulate the plant and increase its likelihood of surviving the winter. |
| Propagation | easy by division or cuttings |
| Misc Facts | The Chinese started breeding this plant over 2,000 years ago and now there are thousands of cultivars. (syn Dendranthema x grandiflorum) |
| Author's Notes | At my nursery, we grow various types of mums, including the Fireside variety. This particular type can bloom in my garden as late as mid-to-late November. Having large pots of these plants in full bloom on Thanksgiving Day is truly impressive. If you plan to buy larger potted mums in the fall, it's a good idea to choose a few varieties that are still in tight bud to help extend the blooming period in your garden. |
| Notes & Reference | #79-Perennials For Every Purpose (Larry Hodgson), #274-Site Authors' observations and growing experiences |
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