Chrysanthemums or “mums” are some of the best known and widely recognized perennials available. It is a sure sign that Autumn is just around the corner when these blazing beauties arrive in garden centers around the nation. They are a hardy and easy to care for plant that requires very little attention.
The first rule of thumb is to pick a sunny and well drained location. Mums will do well in most any location but they do best with at least half a day in the sun. They also like to be kept moist but not soggy. Without proper drainage they will not grow or flower as well as they could and loss of plants to winterkill is more likely.
Once you have a location chosen work peat moss, manure or compost down into the soil about six inches. Mums enjoy a lot of nutrients so they also appreciate a 5-10-5 fertilizer once in the spring to boost growth and once in the fall to boost flower production.
Most of today’s mums that are purchased in garden centers do not require the pinching that older varieties do. If you do have older mums the purpose of pinching them back is to make the plant more compact and bushy which means more flowers. The plants must be pinched no later than July 4th or you will risk pinching off your developing flower buds.
Now comes the best part of the process. Choosing the flowers themselves. Chrysanthemums come in many heights from small dwarf varieties to more shrub-like cultivars. The range of colors goes from whites and creams, to yellow, oranges, bronzes, reds, purples, pinks and bicolors. Below is a list of the most popular cultivars divided by color to get you started.
WHITE AND CREAM
- Minnwhite: low growing, early blooming two inch flowers
- Snowsota: low growing, mid season blooming one and a half inch flowers
- Snowscape: low growing, early blooming three inch flowers
- Mellow Moon: medium growing, early blooming four and a half inch blooms
YELLOW
- Target: low growing, long blooming two inch flowers
- Centennial Sun: medium growing, early blooming one and a half inch blooms
- Golden Star: medium growing, early blooming, single spoon flower
- Minnyellow: low growing, late blooming two inch flowers
ORANGE
- Autumn Fire: tall growing, late blooming three and a half inch flowers
- Burnt Copper: tall growing, mid blooming, three inch flowers
- Inca: low growing, early blooming two inch button flowers
BRONZE
- Zonta: medium growing, mid blooming two and a half inch pompom flowers
- MinnAutumn: low growing, midseason blooming two and a half inch formal form flowers
- Gold Country: tall growing, mid blooming four inch flowers
RED
- Gypsy Wine: low growing, early blooming two inch pompom flowers with a scent
- Maroon Pride: tall growing, mid blooming three inch shaggy blooms
- MinnRuby: low growing, mid blooming two and a half inch pompom flowers
- Betty Lou Maxi-Mum (TM): tall growing, mid blooming two and a half inch button blooms
PINK/MAUVE
- Clara Curtis: tall growing, very early blooming daisy like flowers
- Sheffield Pink: tall growing, midseason daisy like blooms
- Dr. Longley: medium growing, early and midseason blooming plants
- MinnPink: low growing, early blooming one and a half inch flat blooms
LAVENDAR/PURPLE
- Carousel: tall growing, early blooming, four inch quilled blossoms
- Grandchild: mid growing, early blooming two inch pompom flowers
- Centerpiece: tall growing, early to mid blooming four inch quilled flowers
- Grape Glow: medium growing, mid season blooming three and a half inch flat decorative flowers
Now that you have the colors and cultivars selected and planting you must think ahead to over wintering your plants. It is essential that you not only refrain from cutting back the dead growth until spring but they must also be mulched. Mulching with straw or a similar mulch to a depth of about six inches as soon as the ground freezes will ensure winter survival.
Following these simple tips will ensure a beautiful blazing fall display year after year after summer blooms fade.
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