Chrysanthemum morifolium: Hardy Garden Mum for Fall Color

Chrysanthemum morifolium – October Cut Flowers

Hardy garden mums provide clusters of flowerheads over a long period in red, orange, yellow, white, lavender when few other cut flowers bloom in October. Looser habit than florist mums, long stems good for cutting.

Culture

Fertile soil, full sun best (tolerates light shade). Pinch back early summer if not cutting. Divide in spring or fall. Often used as annuals. Propagate by cuttings in early spring rooted in soilless mix with sand at 61°F, cold frame with ventilation, harden off mid-spring. Pests: aphids, earwigs, nematodes, capsid bugs, leaf miners, whiteflies, thrips, spider mites. Diseases: Botrytis, leaf spots, rust, powdery mildew, stem/root rots, verticillium wilt, aster yellows, viruses.

At a Glance

• Height/Spread: 1–3 ft.
• Light: Full sun to part shade
• Moisture: Medium
• Bloom: Late summer to fall (pink, purple, red, white, yellow)
• Uses: Borders, cut flowers, cottage gardens