Chrysanthemum Fact Sheet
Horticulture Services Division
Capitol Gallery
600 Maryland Avenue SW, Suite 3300
Washington, DC  20024

Linneaus named the Chrysanthemum after the Greek words chryos, which means gold, and anthemom, which means flower.  These “Golden Flowers” now come in all shades of golds, reds, pinks, purples, whites and many shades in between.  “Mums,” as they are sometimes called, provide color to the garden in the fall. Mums originated in China, where they have been cultivated for centuries. The first recorded mention of Chrysanthemums was by Confucius in 500 BC. Chrysanthemums were introduced to Japan from China in the late fourth century AD  Japan made Chrysanthemums the centerpiece of many national festivals and holidays.  The flowers were thought to have healing properties, and were used as symbols of health and long life.  Chrysanthemums were introduced to Europe in the late seventeenth century and to the United States in the late nineteenth century. Chrysanthemums are plants valued and cultivated around the world.


FLOWER FORM
Chrysanthemums are in the plant family Asteraceae along with daisies, sunflowers and asters.  Their “flowers” are actually inflorescences that are composites of hundreds of little flowers.  There are two different kinds of flowers:  disk flowers and ray flowers.  In a daisy, petal-less disk flowers make up the center of the flower and the ray flowers, with one elongated petal, are around the edges of the inflorescence, making up the “petals.” 

Flower Classes: 
Chrysanthemums are divided into different classes depending on the shapes of disk and ray flowers and how they form their inflorescences.
Classes include: Irregular incurve, Reflex, Regular Incurve, Decorative, Intermediate Incurve, Pompon, Semi-Double, Anemone, Spoons, Quill, Spider, Brush.  Fall bedding mums are usually in the pompon class.

Different countries have concentrated on breeding different characteristics into the flowers.  Japan favored irregular shaped petals while the French preferred smaller sprays of flowers with regular petals.  The United States concentrated mostly on traits such as increased winter hardiness and stiffer blooms to remain intact during shipping, that would enhance the commercial value of the plants.
 

 COMMERCIAL USES OF CHRYSANTHEMUMS
The numerous modern cultivars of Chrysanthemums are descended from two species. Chrysanthemums are used commercially in many different ways.  They are sold as cut flowers for many flower arrangements, and  they are used as landscape bedding plants.  The non-hardy varieties are also sold as indoor plants.

Hardy vs. Non-Hardy Chrysanthemums:
Most Chrysanthemums sold at garden centers in gallon pots in the fall are “hardy” chrysanthemums.  That means that they will live through the winter with a little bit of protection.  Many people are upset to find that their hardy mums did not live through the winter.  That happens because mums are often purchased and transplanted in the fall when they are in full bloom, and their energy is devoted to producing the flowers and not to producing new roots.  For the best luck with the survival of hardy mums, purchase them in the spring with other perennials and allow them to establish themselves before the fall. 

Nonhardy mums are the long-stemmed and houseplant varieties that are used in florists shops, and are shown in competitions.  These plants should be treated as annuals whenever they are used outside. 
THE INTERNAL CLOCK OF MUMS
Chrysanthemums have a light sensitive internal clock that tells them when it is time to flower.  This inner clock is the reason why mums only bloom during the fall.  Chrysanthemums are short day plants. In their leaves is a compound or hormone that controls flowering.  When the day length is less than 15 hours this substance moves up to the apical meristem, or growing tip of the plant, and changes the meristem from vegetative to reproductive.  Instead of producing leaves, the meristem begins producing flowers. 

In many plants, flowering is not light induced and they will bloom once they are large enough and have enough leaves to support the energy requirements of flowers.  Chrysanthemums can only be induced to bloom out of season by manipulating the light conditions in which they are living.  Commercial growers producing mums in greenhouses use black cloths pulled over the plants to block out light and shorten the day length.  This manipulation allows florists and interiorscape specialists to use Chrysanthemums year round. 

PROPAGATION OF NEW PLANTS
Division: Dig up well established plants in the spring and divide them into several clumps.  Replant the new clumps in well drained, sunny spots and they will soon re-colonize. 

Cuttings:  Softwood cuttings can be taken from the top three inches of new growth on the plant.  This is one of the preferred methods of commercial propagation.  Take cuttings in the spring from plants grown outside, and at various times of year from plants grown in the greenhouse.  Dip cuttings into rooting  hormone and then stick them in a special soiless rooting media.  Keep cuttings moist and in a humid environment until they develop a good root system. 

 CULTURAL CARE AND MAINTENANCE
Care of Chrysanthemums varies from season to season.  Give your Chrysanthemums a good start by planting them in well drained soil in a sunny site.

Spring: Purchase Chrysanthemums in the spring with other perennials and plant them.  Throughout the summer, the plants will have a chance to establish themselves and have a better chance of surviving the winter.  Another late spring task is removing the flower buds.  This is called pinching.  Pinching gives the plant a more compact and bushy growth habit.  Pinching is a matter of personal preference.

Summer:  Continue to pinch throughout the summer until the first week of August.  After the first week of August, allow the flower buds to grow and mature naturally.  Watch for pest problems.  Spider mites and aphids and white flies are the most frequent pest problems of Chrysanthemums. Mildew is a common disease problem.  If you encounter problems, visit a garden center for advice on proper insecticides and disease control mechanisms. Chrysanthemums are heavy feeders; it is necessary to fertilize and water them generously throughout the summer. 

Fall:  Fall is the time when Chrysanthemums shine. Their colorful blooms fill the landscape.  Mums bloom from the middle of August until the first hard frost. It is also possible to purchase mums in full bloom at garden centers and transplant them while they are blooming.  Remember to keep the mums well watered.  If they wilt, their blooms will be greatly affected. 

Winter:  Many Chrysanthemums are marginally hardy in colder areas.  Mulch the plants and be sure that they are planted in well drained soil so that their roots do not experience stress from freezing and thawing due to water that has not drained from the soil.
For Further Reading
Christopher Brickel and Judith D. Zuk, editors. 
American Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Garden Plants.  New York:  DK Publishing, 1997.

Randall, Harry and Alan Wren. 
Growing Chrysanthemums. Portland:  Timber Press, 1983. 

National Chrysanthemum Society web site: 
 http://www.mums.org
 
Researched and Written by Katie Elzer, 2000
HTML by Susan J. Pennington, 2000

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Researched and written by Katie Elzer, 2000.