Chrysanthemums for the Garden

Landscaping with Mums, Their History and Varieties Available Today

Nov 16, 2008

Chrysanthemums have an interesting history and have developed into one of the most popular plants for the garden and landscape.

Mum's not the word when it comes to the chrysanthemum. There is in fact a lot to be said about this beautiful fall blooming treasure. Originally cultivated in China during the 15th century, the Chinese loved the plant so much that it quickly became a national treasure and part of their culture. As an herbal, the plant was used for headache cures, festival drinks, and the petals were eaten with meals. The Chinese even named a city after the mum, called Chu-Hsin – meaning Chrysanthemum city.

Some 23 centuries later as Japan started developing the landscape as an art-form the mum became an integral part of the Japanese culture. The Emperor of Japan even used the mum as his official crest and seal. Prominent Japanese families also often chose a particular flower form as a crest and seal to represent their family as well. Still today, there is an annual festival celebrated nationally- known as Festival of Happiness.

It wasn’t until the 17th century that the mum was introduced to the west. This was during the colonial period when well-to-do plantation owners often cultivated private gardens and loved their chrysanthemums. Since then, the plant has risen in the United States to become the most popular potted perennial available – which is amazing based on its once-a-year blooming habit.

However, if you think about it, mums are one of the longest lasting cut flowers, and do bloom in the fall when there is usually not much happening florally. Wholesale growing Nurseries love the plant because it has a predictable bloom cycle so marketing can be timed perfectly. How many flower arrangements are devoid of mums - and ladies, remember that corsage you received from that special date in high school?

The mum of today looks nothing like the ones of ancient history. Sure, there are still the simple composite types available at many non-specialty nurseries. But with today’s advancement in horticulture and experienced hybridizers doing selective chrysanthemum breeding around the world – we now have mums that look like a plant seen on another planet on a Star Trek episode.

Because of the variable genetic make-up of mum we now have so many different flower forms that they have been classified into specific named types as follows:

Take a look at the following photos and you’ll probably agree – mum isn’t the word when it comes to chrysanthemum. There is a mum to suite everyone’s fancy.

The copyright of the article Chrysanthemums for the Garden in Perennial Plants is owned by Rod Whitlow. Permission to republish Chrysanthemums for the Garden in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.