As fall breezes continue to get cooler and any flowers left from summer continue to fade, your garden may seem in need of reviving. Garden chrysanthemums offer a revitalizing burst of color in tune with nature’s autumn palate. “Mums,” as they’re typically called, have numerous benefits – the biggest draw being the mass of color these compact, mounding plants offer. They’re also generally inexpensive, considering the bulk of flowers and amount of color they provide.
Full-bloom chrysanthemums offer a mass of color. Given adequate water, the flowers will last for several weeks.
Photo Credit: Megan Bame
Chrysanthemums have long-lasting flowers. Buying the plants early allows you to enjoy the blooms longer.
Photo Credit: Megan Bame
Some mums have happy daisy-like flowers.
Photo Credit: Megan Bame
In addition to yellow (the most popular mum color), chrysanthemum flowers come in shades of purple, red, bronze, pink and white. The blooms are either similar to those of a daisy, with a button center surrounded by a row of petals, or they’re more like a pom-pom, with no distinguishable center – just a ball of petals. Either way, mums herald the coming of fall and keep the season colorful.
The key to getting the most out of your mums starts with selection. It may be instinct to select a plant that’s nearest to full bloom at the garden center, but disappointment may follow because old flowers fade faster than new buds open. Instead of choosing a plant that’s already covered in blooms, select one that’s heavily budded with only a few open flowers. The remaining buds will open in the coming weeks. As the older blooms fade they should be removed so that the younger buds can receive more energy from the plant. (This action of removing dead flower heads is called “deadheading.”)
On the other hand, if you’re hosting a fall cookout on a given weekend, you want to be sure that your mums are in full bloom at the same time for maximum impact. Given cool nights and adequate water, mum flowers – even at full bloom – should last for several weeks. Check your mums daily for moist soil. If it’s dry, water thoroughly.
With proper selection and care, mums can provide weeks of color and fall décor to your home – inside and out. Let the planting and decorating begin!
