November Birth Flower: Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum, or "mum" for short is the birth month flower for November. Chrysanthemum is often the first flower to come to mind when thinking about crisp fall days and the Thanksgiving holiday. It can be found in many fall decorative displays. The word, "chrysanthemum," is derived from the Greek prefix chrys meaning golden and anthemion, meaning flower. Although the original color of the mum was gold, today's mums can be found in many brilliant colors of yellow, orange, white, burgundy, purple, pink, and red.

Folklore has given various meanings to the chrysanthemum, especially as related to the color of the flower. In general, mums represent loyalty, longevity, optimism, and joy. However, a red chrysanthemum signifies true love. A white chrysanthemum symbolizes innocence, purity, and honesty. A yellow chrysanthemum often refers to slighted love or a wounded heart.

Native to Asia and northeastern Europe, the chrysanthemum was grown as a flowering herb in China as early as the 15th century BC. The Chinese consider the chrysanthemum as a symbol of stateliness, and is popular among the country's poets and artists. Confucius once suggested that the chrysanthemum be used as an object of meditation.

The Japanese hold a "Festival of Happiness" to celebrate the flower each year. Symbolic of the sun, they consider the orderly unfurling of the chrysanthemum's petals to signify perfection.

Both the Chinese and Japanese consider the chrysanthemum as a powerful symbol of youth. The Chinese also believe that it prevents gray hair. Folklore has suggested that a single petal placed in the bottom of a glass of wine enhances longevity.

Chrysanthemums are one of the most widely cultivated flowers worldwide and belong to the daisy family. They are one of the easiest perennials to grow and are not specific to any season. However, chrysanthemums are most outstanding in the fall because they continue blooming after other garden plants have stopped. Many beautiful varieties of chrysanthemums bloom during the fall in Pennsylvania. The majority of mum varieties are winter hardy in zones 5 through 9; Pennsylvania's zones generally range from 5a to 7b.

Chrysanthemums Planted in the Ground

Mums can be started from seeds, cuttings, or division. They are often purchased at garden centers as bedding plants or in gallon-size containers ready for planting. Most chrysanthemums are perennials and should be planted in early spring after danger of freezing has passed. However, they can be planted at almost any time, but need enough time to establish their root system, at least six weeks before either hot or freezing weather.

To grow plants from seed, direct sow into fertile, loamy, or sandy soil with full early morning sun for at least five to six hours daily, at least two months before the first frost. Germination takes place in one to three weeks. Alternatively, start them indoors over the winter keeping the planting medium about 70 to 75°F. Organic matter may be added to help with drainage. Chrysanthemums flower approximately three months after sowing and have a long flowering period usually deep into autumn. They are short-day plants, which means that the shorter days after June 21 trigger blooming.

To propagate mums through cuttings, remove the lower half of the leaves from a 4-to-6-inch healthy stem using a sharp clean knife. Dip approximately 3/4 inch of the cut end into rooting hormone and carefully insert the cutting one-inch deep into sterile moist sand, vermiculite, or sphagnum moss, allowing time for a sufficient root system to develop.

Do not plant mums in the same growing area for more than three consecutive years in order to prevent disease and pest problems. Because chrysanthemums are vulnerable to aphids and mildew, keeping plants' foliage dry is necessary. Mums need air circulation and adequate drainage. Therefore, plant them 18 to 30 inches apart for best results. When plants reach 6 inches tall, pinch about 3/4 of an inch from each branch for more blooms and bushier plants. Pinch them back again at about 12 inches tall. The faded blooms should be removed regularly to prolong flowering. Frequent feedings with a balanced fertilizer during the growing season can benefit the plants.

Divide chrysanthemums with new growth in the spring every three to five years to prevent overcrowding. When new shoots are 1 to 3 inches tall in early spring, dig out entire clumps and separate plants with a sharp knife or spade. Remove dead and diseased areas. Replant the divisions in loose, well drained, fertile soil and discard the dying woody parts. Young divisions will grow much better than older crowded woody sections.

After a hard frost has killed the foliage, cut mums back to the ground and cover with a light mulch of evergreen branches. The greatest hazards for chrysanthemums in the winter are constant wetness or ice on the leaves. Frost heaving, the alternate freezing and thawing of the soil can also be dangerous to the plants. To help avoid this, keep mums somewhat shaded and insulate their roots with mulch or mounded soil.

Potted Chrysanthemums

Chrysanthemums can be kept indoors in pots over winter. After the flowers fade, move the mums to a cool but well-lit location. Keep the plants watered, but do not overwater. When the top 2 to 3 inches of soil dries, water until it runs out of the pot's drainage hole. Keep the mums in a cool, brightly lit location and you can keep the plants viable until winter is over. If there is new growth, wait until frost has passed to plant outside. Gradually acclimate the mums as they start to revive in the spring. Place them in a protected part of the garden, with partial shade during the day, and in the coolest room at night. As daytime and nighttime temperatures warm to beyond freezing, you can leave them outside and apply bloom fertilizer.

Keep in mind that if you buy chrysanthemums and plant them in fall when they are already in bloom, they may not survive the winter. This is because they will use be using all their energy to bloom instead of putting down roots for colder weather.

Decorative pre-potted chrysanthemums are popular year-round flowering gifts. Mums normally bloom in fall but some can flower year round. Potted mums may last up to a month when given proper care in the home. Set the plant near a window that gets bright light but not direct sun. Monitor regularly to keep the soil moist, but ensure that the plant is not sitting in water. Conversely, do not allow the plant to wilt. Keep temperature between 60 and 65°F at night; daytime temperatures can be 10 to 15 degrees higher.

Chrysanthemum varieties used for flowering potted plants are not usually types that will rebloom easily but may be induced with proper attention. Because florists often pot a few plants together, the individual plants should be separated after flowering and repotted individually. Put each into a 6-inch pot and keep well-watered and at approximately 60°F. When new shoots appear, the plants can be moved to a full sun area if kept sufficiently watered.

In summer, sink pots outside in a sunny area and apply a complete liquid fertilizer about every two weeks. Additional plants can be started by rooting cuttings from new growth. To keep large, full plants, pinch the tip of each new shoot when it reaches about 5 inches long. Early fall-flowering varieties should receive their last pinching between mid-June and July 1; late flowering varieties should be pinched no later than July 15.

Keep the mums outside as long as possible in fall until a light frost is likely. Cover the plants or lift the pots entirely and bring them inside to overwinter. Set them in a sunny south window. Night temperatures around 60°F and day temperatures of 70 to 75°F are recommended. Note that plants forced at home will rarely be as perfect as greenhouse grown ones. Greenhouse conditions are carefully monitored and are therefore difficult to duplicate in the normal home.

For use in decorative settings, plant one or two colors to get a uniform effect. Also, an arrangement of a gradual transition of related colors can be very effective. If your fall decor includes pumpkins and gourds, add orange, yellow, and creamy white mums for a beautiful-coordinated look. For a landscape with a lot of green foliage, use bright pinks, lavenders, whites, or reds for striking contrast.

However you grow or display chrysanthemums, many varieties are available to provide options for interest in the landscape with their varying heights, colors, and bloom times. You are sure to find the best mum for your autumn décor!

~ Joan Banyas, Penn State Extension Master Gardener, Luzerne County