
What are perennial mums?
Perennial Mums are long-lived garden plants that bloom every fall in the flower garden. There is a wide range of species, flower forms, and colors available to choose from. Perennial Mums are best planted in the spring, which gives the plants time to root into surrounding soil prior to blooming.
Can you plant fall mums in the garden?
Even most varieties of popular Fall Mums can be planted in the garden as perennials in warmer Zones 7-9. You can buy Perennial Mums at most garden stores and plant nurseries in the springtime. Garden stores and plant nurseries specifically grow perennial mums that are meant to be planted in gardens.
Are mums frost hardy?
Most garden mums are perennials in Zones 5-9 and much tougher than florist types. Some cultivars are less hardy than others and can be killed by an early spring frost, though. Pair mums with other cold-hardy plants, like the purple-leaf heuchera shown here, for stunning fall displays.
Are mums perennials in Zone 7?
Popular long-lived Perennial Mums for the garden include Mammoth Perennial Mums, Wanda Mums, Paradiso Mums, and Morgana Mums (see below for more details on these groups). Even most varieties of popular Fall Mums can be planted in the garden as perennials in warmer Zones 7-9.
See more

Do fall mums grow back every year?
Because people often think that mums (formally called Chrysanthemums) are at best a finicky perennial, many gardeners treat them as annuals, but this doesn't have to be the case. With just a little winter care for mums, these fall beauties can come back year after year.
Which mums come back every year?
Garden mums are a true perennial, and with a little fall preparation, can be kept and grown year after year. With a hardiness from growing zones 5 to 9, it is these mums you want to purchase and save!
What type of mum is a perennial?
Garden mums, also known as hardy mums, are perennial mums. Cut-flower chrysanthemums, like spider mums or football mums, are perennials in Zones 5 to 9, and these types are becoming easier to find for sale online.
Are fall mums annual?
Chrysanthemums are a hardy perennial plant best planted in the spring, but those that are sold in garden centers in the autumn are most often treated as annuals.
Can you plant fall mums in the ground?
Plant Them Anyway Technically, however, they can be planted in your garden any time before the first frost of fall. This means you can try removing the mums from your pot and planting them in the ground in the fall. Although your potted mums may look dead, they might just be dormant.
How do you winterize mums?
0:382:07Will Fall Mums Last Through the Winter? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWays you can help to get these mums to live through the winter would be to go ahead and let themMoreWays you can help to get these mums to live through the winter would be to go ahead and let them flower make sure you keep them well watered through the fall and into the winter. And then also maybe
How can you tell a perennial mum?
The perennial, fall-flowering form is Chrysanthemum x morifolium and the annual variety is Chrysanthemum multicaule. If your plant came without identification, note that the annuals have thinner, strappy leaves that are not as toothed as the perennials, which are wide and deeply notched.
What do I do with my mums after they fall?
After they finish flowering, garden mums should be cut back far enough to remove all of the faded flowers (about one-quarter their height). If the winter stays very mild, some mums will produce a few more flowers. In late January or early February, garden mums should be cut back to about three inches from the ground.
Can mums survive winter in pots?
Fall-blooming mums (Chrysanthemum x morifolium) are perennials in USDA plant hardiness zones 5 to 9, and they're often grown in pots as annuals in other zones. In cold climates, overwintering mums in pots in a sheltered place can increase their chances of surviving the winter.
What is the difference between an annual and perennial mum?
Perennials return every year, whereas annuals only grow for one season. Mums are perennials and will bloom in the spring for several years in a row, if taken care of so that they can survive the winter. Whereas annuals have to be planted anew every year, perennials can last for years at a time.
What to do with potted mums after blooming?
After the last hard freeze of the spring, plant the mum in the warm soil or move the pot back outside. Trim the stems and foliage. The plant should begin showing growth within weeks. You can pinch back the plant to just a few inches tall in July and August to enjoy hardy flowers again in the fall.
When should I buy fall mums?
Mid-September is the earliest time you should consider buying. However, the longer and hotter summers each year push that date into late September, even into October. Nothing ushers in autumn like mums. Slip them between the coleus from your summer pots for a big show of color.
Are potted mums annuals or perennials?
perennialsThough technically perennials, mums are often grown as annuals. If you live where winter can be frigid (USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 3 through 6), go with early-blooming varieties — they're more likely to come back in subsequent years.
How do you save chrysanthemums for next year?
Winter them indoors in a cool basement or attic. If winters in your area are extremely cold, or you waited way too long to get them in the ground, try wintering them in a garage or basement.
Will Belgian mums annual or perennial?
Belgian mums are actually a subset of perennials. Named after their country of origin, you might as well call them supermums, in that they are highly prolific, producing as many as one thousand buds per bloom season. They are also tougher and hardier than other garden mums.
Will potted mums bloom again?
A: They won't flower again this year, but should next fall. You can keep them in containers or plant them in the garden in an organically enriched, well-draining soil and in five to six hours of sun. Since the blooms have faded, cut the plants back to 2 inches above ground and mulch heavily.
What are the plants in Hyannis Country Garden?
The entrance to Hyannis Country Garden is filled with beautiful chrysanthemum, kale, and other fall plants, not to mention many decorative pumpkins.
Do chrysanthemums come back next year?
The term “hardy” for these plants indicates that they will last through several light frosts in the fall…it doesn’t refer to their ability to return next year. Here on Cape Cod, however, these chrysanthemums will live through the winter and return next spring if you pay attention to them this autumn. Here are the keys to successfully helping mums to come back:
Perennial Mums: The Basics
Perennial Mums, also known as Chrysanthemums, are long-lived perennial flowers in the daisy family that originated from China. There are 13 flower-type categories and hundreds of varieties. Perennial Mums come in all sorts of colors such as red, orange, yellow, white, pink, lavender, and bronze.
Varieties Of Perennial Mums
There are countless different varieties of Perennial Mums to choose from. Here are some popular Perennial Mums to grow:
Plant Care For Perennial Mums
Perennial Mums are relatively easy to care for. They generally require at least 6 hours of sunlight with partial afternoon shade preferred in Zones 8-9. Mums need to be watered regularly throughout the year at the base of the plant to ensure the roots receive ample moisture.
Types Of Perennial Mums
There are 13 different class categories of perennial mums. Every variety falls into one of these categories, including various cultivars of Garden Mums, Florist Mums, Exhibition Show Mums, Japanese Mums, and Korean Mums.
Why do you plant mums in the fall?
Fall planting lessens the chance of winter survival, however, because roots don't have time to establish themselves enough. If you want something more permanent and are willing to provide proper care such as mulching and pinching to encourage compact growth and more blooms, plant mums in the spring and allow them to get established in the garden. This will improve their chances of overwintering and reblooming the next year. Some plants will even produce a few blooms in the spring before being pinched for fall flowers.
When Should Mums Be Planted?
Mums aren't as expensive as many perennials, so if you want, you can plant them as annuals without worrying that you've spent too much money on something that might not live more than one season. If you're an impulse buyer, you'll probably see pots of colorful mums this fall and not be able to resist.
How Do You Care for Potted Mums?
Both florist and garden mums make excellent container plants. Pop them into a clay pot or a fall window box by themselves or with other fall plants like flowering kale. Making sure your potted mums thrive starts with picking the right plant. Look for a plant with more buds than open flowers; it will last longer and the repotting process will be less traumatic for a plant not yet in full bloom.
How Should I Use Mums in My Garden?
Because of their tight, mounded habit and profusion of blooms, garden mums are perfect for mass plantings. To get the maximum effect from far away , stick to only one or two colors. Another possibility is to arrange a gradual transition of related colors in an ombre effect. Many landscape plants can provide a backdrop for groupings of mums to help them stand out more. For texture, choose ornamental grasses, berry shrubs, sedum, or almost any conifer.
How Much Sun and Water Do Mums Need?
Mums thrive in full sun conditions as long as you give them enough water. Choose a spot that gets at least six hours of sun a day. Plants that don't get enough sunlight will be tall and leggy and produce fewer, smaller flowers. Just be careful: Light is not the same as heat. Don't put potted mums out too early in the season when summer's temps are still in full swing. Plants likely won't survive well.
Do Deer Like Mums?
As a general rule, deer won't eat chrysanthemums. But it's really up to the deer. Like people, individual deer have specific tastes. Most deer may hate chrysanthemums, but there may be an odd one or two that like them. When you're trying to find deer- or rabbit-resistant plants, you'll need to learn largely by trial and error. (Though deer-resistant plant lists are always a great place to start.)
How big do spoon mums grow?
The name truly fits this type of mum, which sprouts beautiful spoon-shaped petals. These flowers only grow about 4 inches in diameter, making it a petite mum to add to your garden that won't take up too much space. The most popular of the spoon mums is ‘Kimie’, showing off golden yellow petals in a single row around a tight center disk.
How to keep mums growing?
Divide plants. Dig perennial garden mums every few years and divide them to keep growth strong and vigorous. To avoid diminishing the flower show, divide mums in early spring, just as new shoots appear.
What are the names of the mums?
The group of mums that are hardy actually go by two different common names: garden mums and hardy mums. Garden mums is the wording of choice, and these are the gorgeous flowering plants you see at garden centers in fall displays with pumpkins and gourds. Garden mums boast intense flower power and bold petal hues, including shades like russet, copper, gold, violet and orange.
How to protect mums from winter?
A good mulch layer can also help protect plant crowns in winter. Feed mums regularly. For established mums, fertilize in spring as new growth is emerging. Use a common landscape fertilizer with numbers like 5-10-10. If you’re planting mums in spring, fertilize using a product like 5-10-10.
How to overwinter a mum?
Perennial mums (garden mums) survive winter only when drainage is excellent. Add compost to planting holes and beds no matter what type of soil you have—heavy clay or well-drained loam. It’s worth the effort to ensure your garden mum snoozes through winter without dying.
How to make a queen of autumn garden?
Here’s how to make the queen of autumn gardens thrive. Perennial mums have two requirements for them to survive winter: early planting and excellent drainage. Early planting means the minute you see those spectacular mum pans (shallow pots) at garden centers, you need to buy them, bring them home and plant them.
What zone are spider mums?
Cut-flower chrysanthemums, like spider mums or football mums, are perennials in Zones 5 to 9, and these types are becoming easier to find for sale online. And then there are the annual mums, yellow daisy (Chrysanthemum multicaule) and painted daisy (which has two botanical names: Chrysanthemum carinatum or Chrysanthemum tricolor).
What is the botanical name for a garden mum?
There’s one last piece to the garden mum puzzle you should know. You may see some plant tags stuck in a garden mum pot that say “Dendran thema.” This is a botanical name that was being used for hardy garden mums, but that’s now been reverted back to “Chrysanthemum” by the official plant-naming folks.
How long do mums bloom?
If you wait until things cool off before setting out your mums, you'll be treated to blooms for up to 8 weeks once you have the plants in place. And if you get a few warm days here and there after cooler weather arrives, you can stash your mums in your house or garage until temps drop again.
What flowers are good for fall?
Chrysanthemums are a favorite for outdoor fall decor, thanks to their brightly colored, bountiful blooms that cover the plants for weeks. Mums begin to pick up steam just when many other summer-flowering plants like zinnias and petunias start winding down in the cooler autumn weather.
How long does it take for mums to fade?
In the heat, the flowers will fade in only a couple of weeks so you’ll have to replace them faster if you want to keep up the colorful show.
Can you use chrysanthemums as annuals?
Two other factors to consider: the type of chrysanthemum you're buying and where you want to use it. If you're simply hoping to use mums as an annual in a potted display or garden bed, you can opt for florist (or cutting) mums. Enjoy them until the blooms die off and then compost them.
Can mums survive winter?
If you plant hardy mums in the fall, they likely won't survive the winter. Instead, you can try letting the plants go dormant in their pots and keeping them in a cold but frost-free indoor spot like a garage until the following spring. Then you can plant the mums outside in your garden once the soil has warmed up again. You should soon see new growth appearing from the roots if your plant is still alive.
Can you use mums as annuals?
Two other factors to consider: what type of mums you're buying and where you want to use them. If you're simply hoping to use mums as an annual in a potted display or garden bed, you can opt for florist (or cutting) mums. Enjoy them until the blooms die off and then compost them.
