Mum (Chrysanthemum spp.)
Mum Plant Features
Instant impact! That's what you'll get when you put a generous helping of chrysanthemums (commonly just called mums) in your flower border or containers. Generally sold in ready-to-bloom form, mums provide a fall finale of color to any setting. They come in a wide variety of flower colors and shapes, from small button-sized blooms to giant corsage-worthy flowers. Mum colors include white, yellow, pink, orange, red, burgundy, cream, salmon, and bi-color. There are also dwarf forms that grow just 8 to 10 inches tall and standards that can reach 3 feet in height. Mums are very popular with bees and butterflies, too. Hardy from zones 4-10.Get ideas for decorating with mums and other plants for fall.
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Mum Growing Instructions
Mums are easy to grow and will last for years, but be sure to select plants that are labeled "garden mums." Varieties sold indoors at florists are generally not cold hardy and should be treated as short-lived seasonal gift plants for interior design only. Mums prefer a sunny spot in the garden with well-drained soil. Avoid locations where water stands after a heavy rain. To get the best bloom on large-flowering types, pinch off all the buds in late May. This will encourage more compact growth and additional blooms. In northern parts of their range, apply a winter mulch to protect mums from sub zero temperatures. If your mums grow too large, divide them in the early spring every two to three years. After a few years some mums may begin to weaken or die out. Add new plants every year or two to keep the fall color show going. Deer and rabbits generally avoid dining on mums.This plant not intended for human or animal consumption.
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Water
Moist
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Light
Outside: Sun
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Colors
Orange
Pink
Purple
Red
White
Yellow
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Special Features
Attracts butterflies
Attracts hummingbirds
Deer/rabbit resistant
Super-easy to grow
Complement your Mum
MumMums come in so many colors and flower forms you can mix different varieties to create an outstanding garden.
Aster
In the fall, the blue, pink, or white flowers of Asters look stunning planted next to the yellow, orange, or red blooms of Mums.
Japanese Anemone
Fall blooming Japanese Anemone makes a great partner for a cluster of flowering Mums.
