Nothing says fall like chrysanthemums, called mums for short, and their rich and varied colors are a delight to any eye. You can take your pick from tiny buttons to big, lavish flower heads, in yellow and countless other hues. Just as your garden is starting to look sad at the end of the summer, in step mums to bring happy color, and they don’t mind a little cold either and have few pests. They are hardy too, because rodents and deer typically don’t find them tasty due to their fragrant foliage.
But if you’ve ever failed to see your mums come back the spring after you planted them, here’s why: While chrysanthemums are perennials, you have to get them in the ground early in the growing season for them to come back. (If you're not sure about the differences between annuals versus perennials, we explain it here.) If you don’t plant mums in your garden until they appear seemingly everywhere at nurseries and garden centers as fall arrives, they don't have enough time to get established before cold weather sets in. But, if you plant them earlier in the year, preferably in the spring, they can get settled and then come back to greet you as winter gives way to new life.
Here's how to grow and enjoy these "sometimes" perennials.
What kind of mums should you plant?
There are garden mums, also called hardy mums, and florist mums. Garden mums thrive in zones 4 to 9, while florist mums—like the ones you find at grocery store in gift pots—are only hardy to USDA Hardiness zones 7 to 9 (find your zone here). Read the label so you know what you’re buying in the first place.
"Coppersmith"
"Ruby Mound"
"Jessica Louise"
Do mums come back every year?
Maybe! It depends on when you plant them. If you plant them in the fall, that's often too late because they’re putting energy into blooming, not building roots. You may get lucky if you plant them early in the fall and if you choose plants in tight bud, rather than plants in full bloom. You'll also have better luck with fall planting in warm climates. For anywhere else in the country, plant in the spring if you want them to return every year.
If your mums start to outgrow their place in your garden or get overcrowded by other perennials, you can divide them in the spring. Cut off a chunk (make sure you're getting some roots!) from the edge of the plant with a trowel, garden knife or spade, then replant elsewhere in your garden. Keep them watered as the new plant gets established.
How can I make sure my mums come back?
For starters, you need to get them in early in the growing season. That means you'll probably need to order online because most local nurseries don't carry mums in the spring. Once you have your plant, dig a hole slightly larger than the pot and just as deep as the root ball. Don't put them in too deep, which is a common mistake. Water well, and mulch to maintain moisture, reduce competition from weeds and offer winter protection. Water during dry spells.
When the plants appear next spring, feed them with a granular slow-release fertilizer, and pinch off the tips of each branch (just an inch or so) a few times before July to encourage bushiness. After that, stop pinching or you’ll remove flower buds. If you don't feel like pinching, you don't have to; they'll still bloom but with a more carefree, floppy sort of appearance.
Do mums need full sun?
Yes! Give them at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. Like most flowering plants, they won't bloom well (0r at all!) if they aren't getting enough sun.
Do mums need special care?
Once in bloom, don't bother cutting off spent blossoms because that doesn't extend the flowering time. Next spring, be patient and don't dig them up if it looks like they're dead. Sometimes it takes time for them to pop up after a long winter. If you don’t see anything going on by late spring, they (sadly) didn't make it. No worries! Dig them up and replant new mums. They're inexpensive enough to treat yourself to a new plant every fall.
