Chrysanthemums: Fall's Showstopper, Tea Ingredient, and Garden Staple

Chrysanthemums—affectionately called "mums" or "chrysanths"—are the quintessential autumn perennial. Belonging to the vast Asteraceae family, they offer an astonishing palette: white, yellow, gold, bronze, red, purple, and even green. With dozens of species and thousands of cultivars, there's a mum for every garden style and color scheme.

Garden Care for Lasting Returns

To keep chrysanthemums vigorous, divide clumps in early spring. This rejuvenates the plants, prevents overcrowding, and yields more flowers come fall. Pinch back stems until mid-summer to encourage bushier growth and heavier blooming. Without annual attention, clumps can dwindle and disappear within a few seasons.

From Vase to Teacup

In East Asia, chrysanthemum flowers have been dried for centuries to make a delicate, golden tea prized for its floral aroma and purported health benefits. Simply harvest fully open blooms, dry them in a cool, dark place, and steep a handful in hot water. It's a lovely way to extend the season's beauty—and a reminder that these plants are as useful as they are ornamental.