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How to Grow Fall Chrysanthemums for Your Autumnal Garden

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Emma Gallagher is a Brit living in North Carolina. She grows organic gardens and... Read More

Just when you think the pretty flower gardens have gone to sleep for the winter, out pop the chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum and morifolium) blooms. Many might be familiar with these ‘mums’. Come the end of summer, they flood supermarket and hardware store stoops and porches with their rusty autumnal colors.

These potted fall-colored chrysanthemums are usually bought and treated as annuals for the season. They are paired with pumpkins and other autumnal attire to decorate porches and balconies. Few are planted in the ground at this time, and once the blooms have faded, they are often tossed out or composted.

However, chrysanthemums are a cold hardy perennial (zones 5-7), and can, if treated correctly, overwinter quite well. If you have the space, there is no need to be buying your chrysanthemums year after year. You can plant chrysanthemums in the soil and have them bloom for you every fall.

What’s more, chrysanthemums are edible and may have medicinal properties.

Source: She’s A Mad Gardener/YouTube

Buying Fall Chrysanthemums From the Supermarket

The golds, reds, and yellows from the potted chrysanthemums dominate hardware store and supermarket storefronts this time of year, and it’s pretty hard to resist the festive colors. If you cave and buy yourself a pot or two or three, your chrysanthemums can keep you in color all through the autumn.

When these potted chrysanthemums are put out for sale, they are usually already in full bloom or on the precipice of being so. Though they appear lush and healthy, these plants are coming toward the end of their cycle and are in decline. Left in their pots outside, these plants will not survive the cold.

Planting Your Supermarket Chrysanthemums

One option would be to plant your fall chrysanthemums in the ground in the hope that they will overwinter. There is a chance that this might happen, but, again, since the plants are usually already blooming at this time, the plant is putting its energy into the flowers, not into setting strong roots.

If you do decide to try to plant your supermarket chrysanthemums in the ground, try to do it as early as possible to give your plants a chance to set some roots before the cold of winter. You will also have to make sure that the planted chrysanthemums have a really good layer of mulch to help protect their roots over the winter.

How to Grow Chrysanthemums

Your best option for success would be to buy your plants from a nursery in spring and plant them in your garden. This way, the plants will have all summer to set strong roots and will be ready to bloom come autumn. Plant your chrysanthemums in a sunny spot in your garden with well-draining soil. Keep them watered throughout the season, but don’t let them get too soggy.

Alternatively, you could plant chrysanthemums from seed. They need a long growing season, so planting chrysanthemum seeds indoors about 6-8 weeks before the last frost of the season will give you your best chance. Only lightly cover the seeds with soil. Once the seedlings are 6-8 inches high, you can plant them outdoors after the last frost of spring.

How To Divide Your Chrysanthemums

Source: SanaA’s Garden/YouTube

Chrysanthemums, if given the space, will spread at the root. The larger the plant spreads, the less prolific the blooms might be. Because of this, it is a good idea to divide your chrysanthemum clumps at the root in the spring.

You should wait until there is at least 5-6 inches of new growth before carefully digging up the plant. You can then pry smaller clumps away from the main root system and replant them elsewhere in your garden. Be sure to give them a very good watering after transplanting them, and try to do this task on a cool, shady day.

Don’t Forget To Deadhead

Keep an eye on your chrysanthemums and deadhead-spent flowers regularly. This will encourage more and more blooms to come keeping your plant healthy and you in fall colors for much longer.

How To Make Chrysanthemum Tea

Chrysanthemum tea is said to have a very floral flavor reminiscent of chamomile tea. Traditionally, chrysanthemum tea was used to help with sore throats and headaches. Current research suggests that it has anti-inflammatory properties.

You may use fresh or dried flower heads to make your tea. Dried herbs are much more concentrated than fresh herbs, so you will need to use less. If you have fresh flowers, you can add 3-6 flowers to a cup of hot water to steep.

The petals of the chrysanthemum can be added to salads and desserts to add a little floral fancy. Make sure that any chrysanthemums that you intend to consume have not been treated with chemicals.

This article is for informational purposes only. Consult a medical professional before using plants medicinally. Chrysanthemums belong to the daisy (Asteraceae) family. If you are allergic to plants from this family, avoid consuming this plant.

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