Chrysanthemums at Riverbanks Botanical Garden

The Riverbanks Botanical Gardenin Columbia, South Carolina inspires gardeners to experiment with appealing attributes of plants across the seasons. Perennial beds feature garden chrysanthemums in a fall fantasia of color and form. Alert daisy-like flower heads petaled in rich earth and pastel tones steal the show when planted en masse.

Many garden chrysanthemums descend from Korean hybrids bred in the United States. In the 1930s Bristol Nurseries in Connecticut introduced the hybrids under several names including Korean mums, daisy mums and Northland daisies. All exhibit gregarious and relaxed growth habit rather than the mounded posture of other mums.

The cultivars commanding attention at Riverbanks on a frosty autumn morning include:

• Chrysanthemum ‘Cathy’s Rust’ grows to a height of 2-3 feet with rust colored petals appearing from August to frost.
• Chrysanthemum ‘Country Girl’ has a massive display of white petals rubbed with pink or lavender and large orange central discs.
• Chrysanthemum ‘Emperor of China’ can grow to 3-4 feet tall with large regal blush double-blossoms with quill petals.
• Chrysanthemum ‘Sweet Peg’ is a diminutive plant of 12-18 inches tall with semi-double flowers.
• Chrysanthemum ‘Virginia Sunshine’ is a prodigious bloomer of yellow single daisy-like flowers.
• Chrysanthemum ‘Will’s Wonderful’ is a bicolor rust and mauve flower on long stems.

Cultural Practices

Chrysanthemums are adaptable, dependable, and versatile garden residents. They prefer full-sun. They need well-drained soil rich in organic matter A soil pH of 6.5 is desirable. During the peak of the growing season, they require regular feeding.

Pest and disease problems are minor. Aphids and spider mites can be controlled with forceful sprays of water to the underside of leaves. Insecticidal soap may be used as well. Regular clean up of garden debris should reduce disease outbreaks from fungi.

In mid-summer mums benefit from pinching back stems to encourage density and bountiful fall bloom. Chrysanthemums wait until daylight wanes to commence flowering. Blossoming may extend throughout the fall until hard frosts set in. They are hardy in zones 5-9 dieing back in winter only to return again each spring and spread vigorously.

Propagation is by division and stem cuttings. Gardeners divide clumps in spring to pass along or to relocate to other garden beds.

Mum Shows

One of the largest displays of Korean mums is at the New York Botanical Garden. Central Park Conservatory in New York City also displays masses of Korean mums. Mum shows are annual events throughout the United States in autumn.

Mail-order Sources for Korean Mums

Mail-order garden nurseries offer some of the best cultivars for the home gardener:

• Bluestone Perennials
• Lazyssfarm
• Niche Gardens
• Petals From the Past

Garden mums cater to autumn butterflies. They also make long-lasting indoor flower bouquets. As other perennials prepare for dormancy, garden mums provide cheerful color in the fall landscape.