Hardy Chrysanthemum

Fast growing perennials, typically reaching up to 3 x 3 feet, though some reach as much as 6 feet wide in 3 years. They are easily propagated from rooted cuttings and division during early spring.
There are a number of ways to increase the odds of Chrysanthemums surviving the winter. These are...
Shelter from excessive wind.
- Only fertilize until the end of July
Try to keep fairly dry during autumn and winter; waterlogging during winter can easily cause crown rot. Use a loose mulch thickly after ground freeze.

Dendranthema x hybrida
There are hundreds of Chrysanthemum hybrids and cultivars, many of complex parentage. The ones I included below are among the showiest and hardiest for landscape use in cool temperate regions.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 ( check zone listings as only hardiest clones are hardy north of 6 ) in full sun to partial shade on moist, fertile, well drained soil.
Plants installed during spring have a much greater chance of surviving the first winter. Plants installed while in bloom ( which is also when most are sold ) often fail to put down new roots and establish, thus either growing weakly the following year or not returning at all. Plants can be divided every 2 years during early spring.
Pinch plants back during early summer to encourage bushiness. Deadhead during late fall for appearance but do not cut back plants until early spring since the plant itself helps protect the crown from extreme cold and freeze/thaw. Mulching deeply with straw is also an option in areas of borderline hardiness.
Mums make excellent landscape plants with attractive foliage and spectacular fall flowers. They look great in the front of landscape borders and are also good subjects for planters and pots in the urban garden.
They are deer resistant but not resistant to rabbits. Aphids can damage Mums. Spray with insecticidal soap during evening then wash off in the morning. Other problems such as Spider Mites, Leaf Miner, Rust and Mildew are uncommon. So far, I've only had to treat 1 insect infestation on Mums which occured during July this year, an application of "Bayer 12-month-tree-shrub-insect-control-landscape-formula" poured around the base of the plants solved the problem and they quickly resumed growth.

* photos of unknown internet source




* photos taken on Oct 17 2010 in Ellicott City, MD



* photo taken on Aug 24 2011 in Columbia, MD

* photos of unknown internet source

* photos taken on Nov 8 2011 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 1 2013 in Ellicott City, MD

* photo taken on Oct 2 2014 in Ellicott City, MD

* photos taken on Oct 21 2014 @ U.S. Botanic Gardens, Wash., DC

* photos taken on Sep 17 2015 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Oct 3 2017 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Oct 17 2017 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 18 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 22 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Nov 6 2023 in Columbia, MD

'Brandywine Sunset'
A bushy, perennial, reaching up to 3 x 3 feet, bearing orangish-yellow, aingle, late season flowers.

* photos taken on Nov 13 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 24 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 28 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 29 2024 in Columbia, MD

'Bronze Elegans'
A bushy perennial, reaching up to 3 x 3 ( rarely over 1.5 ) feet, with bronze, double, late season flowers.
Hardy zones 4 to 7 ( 3 on protected sites ).

'Cambodian Queen'
A vigorous, bushy perennial, reaching up to 2 x 3 feet.
The large, pink flowers appear during early autumn and often persist into late autumn. It is similar to 'Sheffield Pink' but more vigorous with even more abundant flowers.
Hardy zones 4 to 9

* photos taken on Oct 21 2014 @ U.S. Botanical Gardens, Washington, DC

'Campfire Glow'
Forms a compact clump, up to 2.5 x 3 feet, with single flowers that open deep orange then fade to pale orange. The flowers appear during October and November.
The foliage is mid-green.
Hardy zones 5 to 9

'Coraligraphy'
Forms a clump up to 2 x 2 feet.
The deep red, semi-double flowers appear during October and November.
Hardy zones 5 to 9

'Cushion'
Comes in Bronze Cushion ( orangish-red flowers ), Lavender Cushion, & Purple Cushion based on flower color. They form perennials, reaching up to 3.3 x 3.3 feet in size.
The Cushion Mims are exceptionally hardy, even thriving on the Great Plains as far north as southern Alberta, Canada.

'Emperor of China'
A bushy perennial, reaching up to 4 feet, with rosy-pink borne mid to late autumn.
The foliage becomes suffused and veined deep red during autumn.
Hardy zones 4 to 8.

'Global Warming Series'
Fast growing, dense hardy Moms that are descendents of 'Sheffield'
The flowers appear abundantly during late during autumn and persist for a while after frost.
Hardy zones 4 to 8 in full sun on well drained soil. They are very pest and disease resistant.

* photo taken on Apr 24 2015 in Columbia, MD

'Autumn Moon'
Reaches up to 2 x 4 feet in height, with pale yellow ( tinged pink ) flowers, up to 2.7 inches across.

'Glowing Ember'
Reaches up to 2 x 4 feet, bearing semi-double, intense red ( centered golden-yellow ) flowers.

* photo taken on Oct 27 2013 in Howard Co., MD

* photo of unknown internet source

* photos taken on Sep 17 2019 in Columbia, MD

'Purple Mist'
Reaches up to 2 x 4 feet in height, bearing bright purple ( with yellow center ) flowers, up to 3.5 inches across.

* photo taken on Oct 27 2013 in Howard Co., MD

* photo taken on Nov 16 2015 in Columbia, MD

'Rustic Glow'
Forms a fast growing clump, up to 3.3 x 7.3 feet in size, bearing deep orange ( centered golden-yellow ) flowers, up to 3.7 inches across.

* photo taken on Oct 27 2013 in Howard Co., MD

* photos taken on Nov 10 2014 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on July 15 2015 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Oct 22 2015 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Nov 14 2016 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 21 2019 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 21 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 23 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 29 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Nov 7 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 24 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Nov 2 2023 in Columbia, MD

'Golden Star'
Intense yellow flowers are quilled.

'Lucie's Pink'
Reaches up to 1.5 feet, with intense rosy-pink, semi-double flowers borne mid to late autumn.

'Matchsticks'
Flowers are yellow with bold orange-red tips.
Hardy zones 5 to 8

* photos of unknown internet source


* photos taken on Oct 21 2014 @ Smithsonian Inst., Washington, DC

Mammoth™ ‘Coral Daisy’

'Mammoth™ ‘Red Daisy’
Reaches up to 3.7 x 6 feet, with red flowers borne late summer into early autumn.
Hardy zones 3b to 8.

Mammoth™ ‘White Daisy’
Reaches up to 3.7 x 6 feet, with white flowers borne late summer into early autumn.
The foliage is deep green.
Hardy zones 3b to 8.

'Mei-Kyo'
A vigorous, bushy perennial, reaching up to 3 x 5 feet in just 4 years.
The small, purplish-pink ( yellow centered ), double flowers are borne mid to late autumn. Do not shear as it may delay blooming.
It is exceptionally hardy ( zones 3 to 7 ), even thriving on the Great Plains as far north as southern Alberta, Canada.

* photos taken on Oct 21 2014 @ U.S. Botanical Gardens, Washington, DC

'Penelope Pease'
A bushy perennial, reaching up to 3 feet with single flowers that are greenish-white later deepening to pale pink. The flowers are freeze hardy.

'Prophet'
A perennial, reaching up to 2 x 3 feet, with flowers that come in a wide range of colors.
Hardy zones 5 to 8

'Raspberry Sorbet'
Compact and upright in habit, reaching up to 2.5 x 2,5 feet.
The foliage is mid-green.
The single flowers, up to 2.8" wide, are purple in bud, opening to pinkish-purple. The flowers appear mid to late autumn.
Hardy zones 5 to 9

* photo taken on Nov 22 2021 in Laurel, MD

'Red Hardy'
A perennial, reaching up to 2.8 x 2.8 feet, with mid-green foliage and abundant red flowers.
It is exceptionally hardy, even thriving on the Great Plains as far north as southern Alberta, Canada.

'Sheffield'
A vigorous bushy perennial, reaching up to 3.3 x 5.7 feet, with pale pink, single flowers borne during mid to late autumn.
The deeply-cut, glossy deep green foliage is very attractive.
Hardy zones 5 to 8 ( 3 & 4 on protected sites ).

* photo taken on June 23 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC

* photos taken on Oct 22 2013 in Towson, MD

* photos taken on Oct 22 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Dec 3 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 21 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 20 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 26 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 28 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Nov 7 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 24 2023 in Columbia, MD

'Sheffield Yellow'
A vigorous bushy perennial, reaching up to 3 x 3 feet, with golden-yellow, single flowers borne during mid autumn.

'Venus'
A very vigorous, bushy perennial, reaching a maximum size of 3 x 5 feet, with very showy, bright pink, single flowers borne during late autumn.

* photos taken on Nov 7 2014 in Harford Co., MD

'Yellow Hardy'
A perennial, reaching up to 2.8 x 2.8 feet, with mid-green foliage and abundant yellow flowers.
It is exceptionally hardy, even thriving on the Great Plains as far north as southern Alberta, Canada.

* photos taken on Oct 22 2013 in Towson, MD

* photo taken on Oct 22 2015 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Oct 24 2021 in Columbia, MD

Dendranthema 'Morden Series'
A series of extremely hardy, dense, compact Mums, reaching up to 2 feet, with double flowers. They were developed at Morden, Manitoba by Agriculture Canada.
Hardy zones 3 to 7

'Morden Cameo'
Creamy-white flowers.

'Morden Canary'
Bright yellow flowers.

'Morden Candy'
Bright pink flowers.

'Morden Delight'
Bronze-red flowers.

'Morden Fiesta'
Intense purplish-pink flowers.

'Morden Garnet'
Deep red flowers.

Dendranthema 'My Favorite'
A prolific bloomer and true perennial, north to zone 5, that reaches a maximum size of 2 x 4 feet. The flowers come in a variety of colors.

Dendranthema 'Prophet'
A perennial, reaching up to 2 x 3 feet, with flowers that come in a wide range of colors.

Dendranthema rubellum
Also called Chrysanthemum rubellum. A fast spreading, rhizomatous, dense, bushy, woody-based perennial, reaching a maximum size of 3 x 4 feet, that is native to northern Eurasia from Poland to Siberia and Japan.
The coarsely-toothed and lobed, triangular leaves, up to 2 inches in length, are deep blue-green.
The fragrant, large, single daisies, up to 3 inches wide, are borne on loose sprays during mid-summer to mid-autumn. The flowers may last into November during a mild autumn. The flowers attract butterflies.
Hardy zones 3 to 7 ( protected site with deep winter mulch north of 5 ) in full sun. Pinch plants back by half during early summer to encourage a more compact habit. Disease resistant.

'Clara Curtis'
The very fragrant, large, deep-pink, single flowers, up to 3 inches wide, otherwise identical to the species.

* photo taken on Oct 7 2022 in Columbia, MD

'Edinburgh'
Scarlet-red, single flowers, otherwise identical to the species.

'Mary Stoker'
Vigorous with profuse, single, golden-orange flowers that later fade to orange then pink.

'Royal Command'
Purplish-red, semi-double flowers, otherwise identical to the species.

Dendranthema weyrichii ( Dwarf Chrysanthemum )
A carpet-forming, woody-based perennial, reaching a maximum size of 20 inches x 2 feet, though usually low and spreading. It is attractive even when not in bloom. The Dwarf Chrysanthemum is native to rocky seashore from Kamchatka south into northern Japan.
The fleshy leaves, up to 1.6 x 1.6 inches in size, are bright green.
The large, white or pink ( with yellow center ), single flowers, up to 2.3 inches across, are borne late summer through mid autumn.
Hardy zones 3 to 7 in full sun on well drained soil.

* photo of unknown internet source

'Pink Bomb'
A fast growing, rhizome spreading perennial, reaching a maximum size of 1.5 x 4 feet, with thick, gray-green foliage and pale rosy-pink, single flowers, up to 1.5 inches across, borne mid summer to mid autumn.

* photo taken on Nov 8 2011 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Oct 21 2016 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 14 2017 in Columbia, MD

'White Bomb'
A fast growing, rhizome spreading perennial, reaching a maximum size of 1.5 x 4 feet, with thick, gray-green foliage and creamy-white ( fading to pale pink ), single flowers, up to 1.5 inches across, borne mid summer to mid autumn.

ADDITIONAL CULTIVARS
https://www.musthaveperennials.com/varieties/dendranthema-igloo-series/