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Chrysanthemum (Rubellum Group) is often confused with:
Chrysanthemum x morifolium Chrysanthemum X morifolium (Dendranthema X grandiflorum)
Native alternative(s) for Chrysanthemum (Rubellum Group):
Phlox carolina Phlox carolina
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Betonica officinalis 2 lipped purple red flowers
Buddleja Lo & Behold® 'Blue Chip Jr.' Buddleja  'Blue Chip Jr.’
Rhododendron impeditum
Chrysanthemum (Rubellum Group) has some common disease problems:
Southern Bacterial Wilt on Herbaceous Ornamental Plants

Old-fashioned Mum Chrysanthemum (Rubellum Group)

Previously known as:

  • Chrysanthemum rubellum
  • Chrysanthemum × rubellum
  • Dendranthema × rubellum
  • Dendranthema zawadskii latilobum
Phonetic Spelling
kris-AN-theh-mum
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Hardy chrysanthemums are easy-to-grow perennials in the Asteraceae (daisy) family.  Unlike other chrysanthemums that are grown as annuals, these plants maintain their space in the landscape returning year after year even in colder climates. They grow into rounded open mounds about 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. This group of plants is native to Eurasia to Indo-China, subarctic America to Canada. The name chrysanthemum is derived from the Ancient Greek words for gold and flower. 

Ideally, place plants in the ground in early spring in full sun with rich, moist, well-drained soil. Many plants are only found in garden centers in the fall but try to find them for spring planting. If plants must be put in the ground in the fall, remove all the flowers to encourage root growth and cover with a thick mulch. Good soil drainage is especially important for the overwintering roots. Grown in less than full sun, the plants will survive but will thin out; the stems will become long and floppy making for a messy appearance. 

Pinch the stems back or shear the plant as soon as the buds appear in the spring to encourage branching and flower bud production for a dense and plentiful flower display. Some summer pruning may be necessary if the plant becomes leggy, but be sure to leave the stems on the plant to protect the crown over the winter. The plant can be propagated by stem cuttings, and every few years the plants should be divided in the spring to avoid dieback in the center of the plant. 

The showy daisy-like flowers with yellow centers and many petals come in a wide array of colors. Blooms appear in the early fall after many other landscape plants are spent and last until the first hard frost.

Hardy chrysanthemums look beautiful in a mass planting along a walkway, planted in the front of a border, or on the top of a garden wall. They grow great in containers and brighten up a patio, or they can be used as a colorful groundcover.  

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Leaf miners can cause cosmetic damage. Keep water off the leaves to avoid foliar diseases.

The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests and diseases.

 VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers,"  a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens. 

More information on Chrysanthemum.

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscapes:
Dry Stream Bed Garden in Cabarrus County Pollinator Garden in Partial Shade Children's Secret Garden- Wilson Botanical Gardens
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Clara Curtis'
    Low growing, pink flowers
  • 'Country Girl'
    Pink flowers
  • 'Duchess of Edinburgh'
    Dark pink flowers
  • 'Mary Stoker'
    Apricot yellow flowers
  • 'Princess Margaret'
    Bright pink flowers
  • 'Sheffield'
    Pale pink flowers
  • 'Venus'
    Open white fade to rose pink
'Clara Curtis', 'Country Girl', 'Duchess of Edinburgh', 'Mary Stoker', 'Princess Margaret', 'Sheffield', 'Venus'
Tags:
#showy flowers#fall flowers#easy to grow#fragrant leaves#apvg#fall interest#cottage garden#mass planting#mounding#frost tolerant#groundcover#border front#walkway planting#small group plantings#garden walls#apvg-p#contact dermatitis#container plant#patio
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Clara Curtis'
    Low growing, pink flowers
  • 'Country Girl'
    Pink flowers
  • 'Duchess of Edinburgh'
    Dark pink flowers
  • 'Mary Stoker'
    Apricot yellow flowers
  • 'Princess Margaret'
    Bright pink flowers
  • 'Sheffield'
    Pale pink flowers
  • 'Venus'
    Open white fade to rose pink
'Clara Curtis', 'Country Girl', 'Duchess of Edinburgh', 'Mary Stoker', 'Princess Margaret', 'Sheffield', 'Venus'
Tags:
#showy flowers#fall flowers#easy to grow#fragrant leaves#apvg#fall interest#cottage garden#mass planting#mounding#frost tolerant#groundcover#border front#walkway planting#small group plantings#garden walls#apvg-p#contact dermatitis#container plant#patio
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Chrysanthemum
    Family:
    Asteraceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Eurasia to Indo-China, Subarctic America, to Canada
    Dimensions:
    Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ground Cover
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Perennial
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Mounding
    Open
    Oval
    Maintenance:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Achene
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Cream/Tan
    Gold/Yellow
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Head
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Radial
    Flower Petals:
    7 - 20 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    The composite head is composed of a yellow center (called disk flowers) and petals of either pink, cream, white, red, or lavender (called ray flowers).
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Margin:
    Dentate
    Lobed
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves at the bottom (4 inches) are longer than those are the top and have more defined margins (generally dentate and lobed) compared to the newer/top leaves.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Patio
    Rock Wall
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Cottage Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Small groups
    Problems:
    Contact Dermatitis
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    Dermatitis caused by irritant oil in leaves. SKIN IRRITATION SEVERE! Redness, scaling, blisters. Vomiting, diarrhea, hyper salivation, incoordination, dermatitis,
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Dermatitis caused by irritant oil in leaves. SKIN IRRITATION SEVERE! Redness, scaling, blisters. Vomiting, diarrhea, hyper saliv
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    Yes
    Poison Part:
    Flowers
    Leaves