Chrysanthemums are popular for fall displays. The ‘Viviana Yellow’ Belgian Mum® (Chrysanthemum x morifolium Belgian Mum® ‘Viviana Yellow’) has bright yellow flowers.
Barbara H. Smith, ©2015 HGIC, Clemson Extension
Quick Guide: Chrysanthemums (Garden Mums)
Botanical Name: Chrysanthemum × morifolium
Common Name: Garden mums / Fall mums
Plant Type: Hardy perennial (commonly used as a seasonal annual)
Height/Spread: 1½ to 3 feet tall (varies by cultivar and pinching)
Bloom Color Range: White, yellow, bronze, pink, lavender, coral, salmon, purple, and burgundy
Bloom Season: Fall until freezing temperatures
Light Requirements: Full sun
Soil Requirements: Fertile, organic, well-drained soil
Water Needs: High—especially during bloom
Fertilizer Needs: Heavy feeder; weekly soluble fertilizer recommended
USDA Hardiness: Hardy across South Carolina (USDA Hardiness Zones 5a to 9b)
Best Planting Time: Fall or early spring
Maintenance Needs: Regular pinching (spring–early July/August), yearly division
How to Grow Chrysanthemums in South Carolina
Garden mums (Chrysanthemum x morifolium) provide a burst of color in the fall when replacing the annuals that have been enjoyed since spring.
Mums provide color until freezing weather arrives.
Height and Spread of Chrysanthemums
Mums grow between 1½ and 3 feet tall, depending on the cultivar, growing conditions, and whether they are pinched regularly during the growing season.
Growth Rate of Garden Mums
Garden mums are hardy perennials throughout South Carolina, although many people treat them as short-season, fall-planted annuals. Chrysanthemums grown as perennials will spread rapidly. They should be divided every year or two.
Ornamental Features of Chrysanthemums
Garden chrysanthemums are valued for their intense color display at the end of the growing season. Flowers are available in many forms, and their colors range from pure white to yellow, bronze, pink, lavender, coral, salmon, purple, and deep burgundy red.
Chrysanthemums come in a variety of colors, such as the ‘Conaco Orange’ Belgian Mum® (Chrysanthemum x morifolium Belgian Mum® ꞌConaco Orangeꞌ).
Barbara H. Smith, ©2015 HGIC, Clemson Extension
Best Growing Conditions for Garden Mums in South Carolina
Best Landscape Use & Sun Requirements
Chrysanthemums prefer fertile, well-drained, highly organic soil in full sun. Mature plants set in a shady area will give nice color the first year, but do very poorly the following year.
Watering Tips for Chrysanthemums
The right amount of water is vital to the success of chrysanthemums.
- Too little water will slow their growth or stop it completely.
- Mums especially need plenty of water when they bloom.
- Give plenty of water to field-grown mums to prevent wilting until they re-establish their root system.
Fertilizing Chrysanthemums
Mums are heavy feeders. A weekly application of soluble fertilizer is a good practice. Mulch helps retain soil moisture, controls weeds, and improves appearance.
How to Plant Chrysanthemums
Chrysanthemums can be planted in the fall or in early spring. Spring-planted mums will give a more robust, full plant for the fall landscape.
Pinching Chrysanthemums for Better Blooming
Pinch the tip growth of spring-planted mums regularly to cause them to branch and bloom well.
Remove the top ½ to 1 inch of new growth about every four weeks:
- Begin when the plant is 6 inches tall
- Continue until early July in the upper Piedmont and mountains
- Continue until early August at the coast
Common Chrysanthemum Pests and Diseases in South Carolina
Common Diseases of Chrysanthemums
Disease problems can include:
- Powdery mildew
- Botrytis blight
- Aster yellows
- Leaf spots
- Viruses
- Foliar nematodes
Common Insects on Chrysanthemums
- Aphids
- Thrips
- Spider mites
For information on chrysanthemum pests and diseases, consult HGIC 2101, Chrysanthemum Diseases & Insect Pests.
Chrysanthemum Cultivars for South Carolina
Chrysanthemums are classified according to shape and arrangement of petals. The major types of hardy mums include:
- Daisies or Singles: Daisy-like flowers with yellow centers
- Anemones: Single mums with a rounded crest of deeper color
- Decoratives: Double or semi-double flowers; usually grow to over 18 inches tall
- Pompons: Small ball-shaped flowers; plants usually under 18 inches tall
- Cushion Mums: early-flowering, low, bushy mums (a growth habit, not a flower form
Below are recommended chrysanthemum cultivars for South Carolina landscapes, organized by bloom color.
The ꞌMargo Whiteꞌ Belgian Mum® (Chrysanthemum x morifolium Belgian Mum® ‘Margo White’) has white flowers with yellow centers.
Barbara H. Smith, ©2015 HGIC, Clemson Extension
White-flowered Cultivars
- ‘Chablis’ – Early flowering, white decorative with creamy center
- ‘Encore’ – Formal late decorative
- ‘Linda’ – Late-season, decorative with excellent flower form
- ‘Patriot’ – Pure white, mid-late season pompon, spreading plant habit
- ‘Mabel White’ Belgian Mum® – Early-season white
- ꞌMargo Whiteꞌ Belgian Mum® – Early-season white with yellow center; good color retention
- ‘Tracy’ – Very late white double daisy; spreading growth habit.
Yellow Chrysanthemum Cultivars
- ‘Allure’ – Mid-season, bright yellow daisy with a green eye; cushion growth habit; heat tolerant
- ꞌAtlantico Yellowꞌ Belgian Mum® – Midseason bright yellow
- ‘Conella Yellow’ Belgian Mum® – Vivid yellow; midseason
- ‘Jessica’ – Midseason, decorative; long-lasting
- ꞌViviana Yellowꞌ Belgian Mum® – Midseason daisy with yellow center
- ‘Yellow Sarah’ – Late, yellow, quilled, decorative; excellent growth habit
- ‘Yellow Jacket’ – Prolific, uniform daisy; excellent habit
Bronze Cultivars
- ‘Cheyenne’ – Large, mid-season, bronze decorative with a button-like texture.
- ꞌConaco Orangeꞌ Belgian Mum® – Mid-season, large, decorative blooms
- ‘Denise’ – Very late season, large, pastel bronze decorative, mounding habit
- ‘Eclipse’ – Mid-season, peaches and cream, decorative, compact and spreading habit
- ‘Flame’ – Flame-orange, mid-season daisy, large flowers; compact and uniform
- ‘Oriole’ – Late, burnt orange daisy; long-lasting
Pink & Purple Cultivars
- ‘Barbara’ – Late, small, purple pompon
- ‘Bordeaux’ – Burgundy-red, semi-tube petals; mid-early season
- ‘Cabernet’ – Late-season, lavender; largest-flowered (3-inch diameter)
- ‘Debonair’ – Lavender, decorative; spreading habit
- ‘Lynn’ – Two-tone lavender, decorative; purple centers, lavender petals
- ‘Tinkerbell’ – Intense purple, decorative; compact
- ‘Stargazer’ – Dark lavender daisy; sensitive to overwatering and poor drainage
- ‘Tripoli’ – Very late, vibrant, pink daisy with golden center
Coral & Salmon Flowered Cultivars
-
The ‘Savona’ Belgian Mum® (Chrysanthemum x morifolium Belgian Mum® ꞌSavona’) has dark red, long-lasting flowers.
Barbara H. Smith, ©2015 HGIC, Clemson Extension‘Grenadine’ – Early, coral, decorative; compact habit
- ‘Radiant Lynn’ – Salmon-pink outer petals; raspberry-tinged center petals
- ‘Serenade’ – Rose-coral, large flowers; blooms earlier than ‘Grenadine’
Red Flowered Cultivars
- ‘Bravo’ – Dark red decorative; strong, compact plants
- ‘Garnet’ – Mid-season, pompon; flowers bright crimson, maturing to bronze
- ‘Ruby Mound’ – Early, maroon-red, large flowers.
- ꞌPavia Redꞌ Belgian Mum® – Dark red; late-season bloomer
- ‘Salsa’ – Red daisy, light green eye; mounding habit
- ‘Savona’ Belgian Mum® – Midseason, dark red; long-lasting flowers
References
- https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/chrysanthemum-x-morifolium/
- https://www.uaex.uada.edu/yard-garden/resource-library/plant-week/garden-mum.aspx
- https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/chrysanthemums/
- https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426-016/426-016.html
Document last updated 11/25 by N. Jordan Franklin.
Originally published 03/99
