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Chrysanthemum x morifolium is often confused with:
Chrysanthemum (Rubellum Group) Red flowers
Dahlia Dahlia 'Knockout' Mystic Illusion flower
Gaillardia x grandiflora Form of 'Goblin'
Tagetes erecta Photo of Tagetes erecta
Zinnia Flower and leaves
Zinnia elegans Zinnia elegans
Native alternative(s) for Chrysanthemum x morifolium:
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium Flowers
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Begonia (Semperflorens-Cultorum Group) Begonia 'Whopper Rose Bronze' Flower and Leaf
Dianthus Flowers
Lantana camara 'Miss Huff' Background plant with Monarda didyma, summer, Moore County
Chrysanthemum x morifolium has some common insect problems:
Chrysanthemum Aphid
Chrysanthemum Lace Bug
Chrysanthemum x morifolium has some common disease problems:
Southern Bacterial Wilt on Herbaceous Ornamental Plants

Florist's Chrysanthemum Chrysanthemum x morifolium

Previously known as:

  • Chrysanthemum morifolium
  • Dendranthema x grandiflorum
Phonetic Spelling
kris-AN-theh-mum mor-ih-FOH-lee-um
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

From the Greek word chrysos, which translates to gold and anthemon, translating to flower, the Chrysanthemum was born.  Autumn mum is an herbaceous perennial in the Asteraceae (daisy) family which adds a pop of color to a fall garden.  These perennials form erect mounds that reach 1 to 3 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide. 

While the plants will begin to grow in the summer and spring, but it does not flower until the autumn.  The edible aromatic flowers come in many colors from brownish shades to pastels and vibrant yellows.  They can be solid, bi-color, or edged around the petals with another color.  The aromatic leaves have a curved edge which add to the attractiveness of this plant.  It can multiply very fast in your garden beds, making it more than just a potted plant for the autumn.  Numerous cultivars of this plant are available: 

Plant in areas of your garden with full sun and well-drained soil, with protection from the afternoon sun in warmer locations.  Favoring sunny locations, it but will grow in areas with shade, however too much shade can leave you with sprawling plants instead of a more upright habit.  

To maintain these plants, cut them back three times during the spring and summer, with the last cut around August 15th to encourage bushy, compact growth and prevent spring flowering.  They can be divided in the spring to further multiply your plants.  In the south these plants easily overwinter outdoors, in colder climates they may need to be dug up and overwintered indoors.

Divide your plants every few years to 

Autumn mums can be utilized in massing, along edges, in the front of borders, or in cut flower gardens.  They work well in containers planted near a patio or window boxes.  The flowers attract butterflies making them a welcome late season nectar source in a pollinator garden.

Quick ID Hints:

  • Leaves variable in size & shape, entire to lobed
  • Heads of flowers variable in size & shape

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Aphids, thrips, spider mites, and lace bugs are occasional insect problems.  Bacterial blight, powdery mildew, stem rot, rust, root rot, verticillium wilt, and leaf spot are occasional disease problems. 

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

Florists' variations: 

Cascades: pot plants with trailing growth habit and covered with masses of small daisy-like heads. 

Charms: pot plants with a dome growth form and numerous, small, daisy-like heads. 

Sprays: Outdoor or interior pot plants with many small heads borne on each branched stem. 

Anemone-flowered Group: ray florets in 5 rows or less with central cushion of tubular florets; heads to 6" diam. 

Incurved Group: ray florets turned in toward the center, forming a tight ball; heads commonly 6-12" diam.

Intermediate Group: florets loosely & irregularly incurved or reflexed; heads commonly 6-12" diam. 

Korean Hybrid Group: late flowering, bushy plants for the open garden, will perennialize for 2-3 years. 

Pompon Group: ray florets are tightly packed (not curled) forming a tight globular bloom; heads to 6" diam. 

Reflexed Group: ray florets are turned outward and downwards from center; heads commonly 6-12" diam. 

Single-flowered Group: ray florets in 5 rows or less with conspicuous disc florets; heads to 6" diam.

Spidery Group: ray florets elongate, thread-like to spoon-shaped; heads to 6" diam.

 

 

More information on Chrysanthemum.

See this plant in the following landscapes:
Pollinator Garden in Partial Shade Davidson County Extension Demonstration Garden
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Bedazzled Bronze'
    Burnt orange with bronze/gold tips.
  • 'Gethsemane Moonlight'
  • 'Kermit'
    Green flowers
  • 'Moonbeam'
    White flowers
'Bedazzled Bronze', 'Gethsemane Moonlight', 'Kermit', 'Moonbeam'
Tags:
#gold#showy flowers#poisonous#full sun tolerant#houseplant#fall flowers#lavender#bronze#white flowers#pink flowers#fragrant leaves#colorful#fall interest#rabbit resistant#window boxes#fast growing#herbaceous#well-drained soil#bicolor#deer resistant#herbaceous perennial#division#bedding plants#cutting garden#pollinator plant#fantz#compact habit#butterfly friendly#nectar plant late summer#nectar plant early fall#nectar plant mid-fall#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#stormwater demo garden orange co#contact dermatitis#compact#container plant#perennial#patio#pollinator garden#accent#cpp
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Bedazzled Bronze'
    Burnt orange with bronze/gold tips.
  • 'Gethsemane Moonlight'
  • 'Kermit'
    Green flowers
  • 'Moonbeam'
    White flowers
'Bedazzled Bronze', 'Gethsemane Moonlight', 'Kermit', 'Moonbeam'
Tags:
#gold#showy flowers#poisonous#full sun tolerant#houseplant#fall flowers#lavender#bronze#white flowers#pink flowers#fragrant leaves#colorful#fall interest#rabbit resistant#window boxes#fast growing#herbaceous#well-drained soil#bicolor#deer resistant#herbaceous perennial#division#bedding plants#cutting garden#pollinator plant#fantz#compact habit#butterfly friendly#nectar plant late summer#nectar plant early fall#nectar plant mid-fall#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#stormwater demo garden orange co#contact dermatitis#compact#container plant#perennial#patio#pollinator garden#accent#cpp
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Chrysanthemum
    Family:
    Asteraceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Used in Chinese traditional medicine
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Asia
    Wildlife Value:
    Flowers attract butterflies.
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Attracts Pollinators
    Colorful
    Defines Paths
    Easy to Grow
    Edibility:
    The petals and flower buds are used to make a sweet drink in Asia and a wine in Korea.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Edible
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Poisonous
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Erect
    Mounding
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Soil pH:
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Gold/Yellow
    Orange
    Purple/Lavender
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Corymb
    Head
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Fragrant
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Flower Shape:
    Dome
    Flower Petals:
    more than 20 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    3-6 inches
    Flower Description:
    A flower head with many peripheral petals of various shapes and colors. Large to gigantic heads, 1-12" diam., solitary or clustered in loose corymbs. Commonly double or semidouble, occasionally as singlescolors variable throughout carotenoid or anthyocyanin pigments; ray flowers conspicuous, variable in size and shape; disc flowers often hidden, yellow.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Lobed
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Pinnately lobed and toothed. Alternate, simple, ovate to lanceolate, pinnately lobed, acute to obtuse, subtruncate-attenuate, entire to coarsely toothed; lobes to one-third to one-half deep into blade; lower surface grayish-pubescent.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Houseplants
    Patio
    Slope/Bank
    Small Space
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Cottage Garden
    Cutting Garden
    Edible Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Small groups
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Rabbits
    Problems:
    Contact Dermatitis
    Poisonous to Humans
    Problem for Cats
    Problem for Dogs
    Problem for Horses
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    Dermatitis caused by irritant oil in leaves. Redness, scaling, blisters. Vomiting, diarrhea, hyper salivation, incoordination, dermatitis
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Alantolactone, a sesquiterpene lactone, guaianolide, pyrethrins and other potential irritants
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    Yes
    Poison Part:
    Flowers
    Leaves