Read about Chrysanthemum in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture
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Chrysanthemum (Greek golden flower). Including Pyrethrum. Compositae. Plate XXX. A diverse group of herbaceous and sub-shrubby plants, mostly hardy, and typically with white or yellow single flowers, but the more important kinds greatly modified in form and color, grown in the open or flowered under glass in fall. Annual or perennial herbs, sometimes partly woody, glabrous or loosely pubescent or rarely viscid, usually heavy-scented: lvs. alternate, various, from nearly or quite entire to much dissected: heads many-fld., terminating long peduncles or disposed in corymbose clusters, radiate (rays sometimes wanting); disk-fls. perfect and mostly fertile; ray-fls. pistillate, mostly fertile, the ray white, yellow, rose-colored, toothed or entire; receptacle naked, flat or convex; involucre-scales imbricated and appressed, mostly in several series, the margins usually scarious: achene of disk- and ray-fls. similar, striate or angled or terete or more or less ribbed, those of the ray-fls. often 3-angled; pappus 0, or a scale-like cup or raised border.—Probably nearly 150 recognizable species, in temperate and boreal regions in many parts of the globe, but mostly in the Old World. The genus Chrysanthemum, as now accepted by botanists, includes many diverse species so far as general appearance is concerned, but nevertheless well agreeing within themselves in systematic marks and by these same marks being separated from related groups. The marks are in large part set forth in the preceding paragraph. Bentham and Hooker make twenty-two sub-groups (of which about six include the garden forms), based chiefly on the way in which the seeds are ribbed, cornered, or winged, and the form of the pappus. The garden pyrethrums cannot be kept distinct from chrysanthemums by garden characters The garden conception of Pyrethrum is a group of hardy herbaceous plants with mostly single flowers, as opposed to the florists' or autumn chrysanthemums, which reach perfection only under glass, and the familiar annual kinds which are commonly called summer chrysanthemums. When the gardener speaks of pyrethrums, he usually means P. roseum. Many of the species described below have been called pyrethrums at various times, but they all have the same specific name under the genus Chrysanthemum, except the most important of all garden pyrethrums, viz., P. roseum, which is C. coccineum. The feverfew and golden feather are still sold as pyrethrums, and there are other garden species of less importance. The botanical conception of Pyrethrum is variously defined; the presence of a rather marked pappus-border on the achene is one of the distinctions; the pyrethrums are mostly plants with large and broad heads either solitary or in loose corymbose clusters, the rays usually conspicuous and commonly not yellow, and the fruits five- to ten-ribbed. Hoffmann, in Engler & Prantl "Naturlichen Pflanzenfamilien," adopts eight sections, one of them being Tanacetum (tansy) which most botanists prefer to keep distinct. Although the genus is large and widespread, the number of plants of interest to the cultivator is relatively few. Of course the common garden chrysanthemum, derived apparently from two species, is the most useful. The insect powder known as "pyrethrum," is produced from the dried flowers of C. cinerariaefolium and C. coccineum. The former species grows wild in Dalmatia, a long narrow mountainous tract of the Austrian empire. "Dalmatian insect powder" is one of the commonest insecticides, especially for household pests. C. cinerariaefolium is largely cultivated in France. C. coccineum is cultivated in California, and the product is known as buhach. There are over one hundred books about the garden chrysanthemum, and its magazine literature is probably exceeded in bulk only by that of the rose. It is the flower of the East, as the rose is the flower of the West. Aside from oriental literature, there were eighty-three books mentioned by C. Harman Payne, in the Catalogue of the National Chrysanthemum Society for 1896. Most of these are cheap cultural guides, circulated by the dealers. The botany of the two common species has been monographed by W. B. Hemsley in the Gardeners' Chronicle, series III, vol. 6, pp. 521, 555, 585, 652, and in the Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society, vol. 12, part I. The great repositories of information regarding the history of the chrysanthemum, from the garden point of view, are the scattered writings of C. Harman Payne, his "Short History of the Chrysanthemum," London, 1885, and the older books of F. W. Burbidge and John Salter. For information about varieties, see the Catalogues of the National Chrysanthemum Society (England) and the Liste Descriptive, and supplements thereto, by O. Meulenaere, Ghent, Belgium. There are a number of rather expensive art works, among which one of the most delightful is the "Golden Flower: Chrysanthemum, edited by F. Schuyler Mathews, Prang, Boston, 1890. "Chrysanthemum Culture for America," by James Morton, Clarksville. Tenn., published in New York in 1891, was the first authentic American work. Within the past few years have appeared "The Chrysanthermum," by Arthur Herrington, "Smith’s Chrysanthemum Manual," by Elmer D. Smith, and recently "Chrysanthemums and How to Grow Them," by I. L. Powell. Aside from the florist's chrysanthemum (C. hortorum), no particular skill is required in the growing of these plants, although great perfection is attained by some gardeners in the handling of individual plants of the marguerites (C. frutescens). The hardy border perennial chrysanthemums may be either small flowered rugged forms of C. hortorum, as the "hardy pompons" and also the "artemisias" of old gardens, or they may be other species. Some of these other species are the "pyrethrums" of gardens, and some (as the C. maximum and C. uliginosum class) are the "moon daisies" and "moonpenny daisies" of the hardy perennial plantation. Some of the very dwarf tufted kinds (as C. Tchihatchewii) make excellent edging plants. The moon daisies deserve to be better known for mass planting and bold lines when a great display of heavy white bloom is wanted. Most of them bloom the first season from early-sown seed. The Shasta daisy and its derivatives are of the moon daisy group. They all profit by a covering of coarse mulch in the fall. See Pyrethrum and Marguerite. The annual chrysanthemums are easily grown flower-garden subjects, suitable for a bold late display in places where delicate and soft effects are not desired. C. carinatum, C. coronarium and C. segetum are the common sources of these annuals. They are hardy and rugged; and they need much room.
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| Lifespan: | ⌛ | perennial |
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| Origin: | ✈ | Asia, NE Europe |
| Exposure: | ☼ | full sun"full sun" is not in the list (sun, part-sun, shade, unknown) of allowed values for the "Exposure" property. |
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| Water: | ◍ | regular"regular" is not in the list (wet, moist, moderate, dry, less when dormant) of allowed values for the "Water" property. |
| Features: | ✓ | flowers |
| Sunset Zones: | see species |
The Chrysanthemum genus is very broad with about 160 species. The more popular ones are of the species C. morifolium, better known as Florists' Chrysanthemum. These bloom in autumn, are the most useful, with a rainbow of colors and flower forms, as well as growth habits. The flowers are good cut flowers as well. The Shasta Daisy (C. maximum) is another popular species that is a heavy summer and fall bloom of white flowers with gold centers, with varying flower forms. The number of cultivars is probably countless, and growing quickly. Below is a general breakout of the many types of groupings, which will simplify how to care for them.
The species of Chrysanthemum are herbaceous perennial plants, with deeply lobed leaves and large flowerheads, white, yellow or pink in the wild species.
Garden Chrysanthemums
These have a bushy, branched habit. Clusters of flowerheads come in a large variety of colors. They are divided into two loose categories, garden types, which tend to the upright, and cushion, which is more of a mound. Flowers come over a long period, usually during early or midseason They are suitable for annual or herbaceous borders. C. segetum works well in wildflower gardens as well.
Exhibition Chrysanthemums
The many cultivars in this group come in a riot of colors and forms. They are perennial and grown for cut flowers, garden color/interest and of course, exhibitions. There are many flower forms, with about a dozen popular named styles which they are often categorized by (irregular incurve, reflex, regular incurve, decorative, intermediate incurve, pompon, semi-double, anemone, spoon, quill, spider and brush), along with their flowering season which is broken out into early (late summer and early fall), midseason (late summer/early fall), or late (mid-fall to early winter) - as well as whether they are disbudded or non-disbudded. Those that are disbudded get classified into groups by size. The non-disbudded are classified by size as well as habit.
If you are growing exhibition mums outdoors, your best bet are the ones with an early-flowering spray, reflexed cultivars and pompoms. Midseason reflexed mums make be happy outside, but usually need to be protected from rain and frost. Late-flowering cultivars are brought to flower in a greenhouse - either temperate or warm.
Disbudded
Remove all flower buds on a shoot except for the terminal bud for biggest blooms. For an exhibition plant, those with incurred, intermediate or reflexed flowers are restricted to just 2 blooms per plant, while in your garden you can allow 4 or 5 buds to bloom per plant. Single and anemone-centered Chrysanthemums are allowed 4-8 blooms in exhibition, while those for your garden and cutting flowers can have 10 or more.
Non-disbudded
Buds are allowed to develop naturally in non-disbudded type plants. The non-disbudded are grouped according their habits:
- Spray chrysanthemums - stems have several flowers. Forms on spray group plants are single, intermediate, reflexed, anemone-centered, pompon, spoon-shaped or quill-shaped. Primarily grown as garden or cutting plants. In an exhibition, each pedicel must have one flowerhead, and the terminal flowerhead must be present, each having at least 5 adjacent flowerheads. Plants in this group grown commercially normally have the central bud removed to give the plant a more rounded shape.
- Charm chrysanthemums - dwarf, bushy, domed habit which is basically spherical, giving hundreds of single-form flowers up to 1 inch (2.5cm) across. They are allowed to grow without stopping or training no matter if they are for the garden, exhibition or as a bonsai.
- Cascade chrysanthemums - flowers are like those of the charm, but trained into different shapes including cascades, pyramids, fans and pillars. Like the charm, these are suitable for bonsai, as well as gardens and exhibitions.
- Pompon chrysanthemums - dwarf, bushy plants. 50 or more flowers are densely arranged, either spherically or hemispherically on a plant. These work well in herbaceous borders.
Rubellum Group Chrysanthemums
Perennials. Bushy and clumping. All are hybrids of C. rubellum (syn. Dendranthema zawadskii). Leaves are pinnatisect, frequently silvery. Flowerheads come in a range of colors, all with a yellow center. They may be single, semi-double or double. Flowers from late summer to early fall. Great as cut flowers, and in herbaceous borders.
Cultivation
Early and mid-season flowering mums grow outdoors in sheltered spots. They like full sun, fertile soil, which is moist but drains well, neutral (or slightly acidic) pH, with well rotted manure. Balanced fertilizer should be used on the soil in a top-dressing before planting them, which should only be done after any chance of frost has passed. As it grows, provide support if necessary, tying with soft twine as it grows. Eventual height can vary widely, depending partly on pruning and fertilization. Plants can be stopped at 6-8 inches (15-20cm) to help encourage flowering lateral production. Stopping those laterals again will encourage an even larger number of blooms, although they'll be smaller. If you want exhibition type blooms, only allow the right number of strong flower stems to remain. Gradually remove undesirable buds, as laterals reach 3/4 in (2cm) in length. The timing of all of this depends on how quickly the plant is growing, but a rule of thumb is to stop all of the disbudding/stopping by July 15 in cooler climates and by July 25 in warmer.
Water freely when conditions are dry. Give balanced fertilizer once a week to a week and a half from mid-summer to when the buds start showing color. When flowers are past their prime, cut back their stems to 6-9 inches (15-23cm). In cooler climates, dig up the crowns and store them in a frost-free place, in soilless potting mix. In warmer climates, apply a thick layer of dry mulch before winter, and in early spring cut back the plant. Early and mid-season exhibition cultivars should be protected from frost and rain. These types are best grown in a cold greenhouse or an open-sided plastic-covered lath house, and the same is true for large-flowered exhibition cultivars.
Late flowering exhibition chrysanthemums, which include the charms, cascades and late flowering sprays all do best in a porous soil-based mix that is slightly acidic, and has added manure. Grow in 3 in. (7.5cm) pots and continually repot into larger sizes until they flower in 9-12 inch (25-30cm) pots, supported with stakes. Do not disbud plants until a week and a half after repotting. Begin growing in a cold frame, then move into warm greenhouse early in the fall, providing adequate air ventilation and always maintaining the temprature above 50F (10C). Water moderately beginning in mid-summer on, and give a balanced fertilizer weekly.
Rubellum Group and annual mums should be grown in full sun, in well drained soil which is moderately fertile.
Propagation
Plant seeds of plants in the charms and cascades groups of Chrysanthemums in late winter to spring at 55-61F (13-16 C). Rubellum group should be sown at the same temperatures in the spring, or by division in fall or early spring. In colder climates sow the seeds of annual types in a cold frame during early spring or in situ in spring to early summer, and in mild climates sow them in situ during autumn for them to bloom early early in the season the next year.
Exhibition types which are overwintered can be used to get basal cuttings - for those that are late flowering take the cuttings in early to mid-winter. All other types of Chrysanthemum cuttings can be taken early in spring. Root cuttings at 61F (16C) in a sandy potting mix, preferably soilless. Protect from cold, in cold frame if necessary. Maintain ventilation if possible. Hardening is possible beginning in mid-spring.
Pests and diseases
Susceptible to aphids, earwigs, nematodes, capsid bugs, leaf miners, whiteflies, fungal rot, gray mold (Botrytis), powdery mildew, white rust, and viruses. Viruses can result in puckering of the leaves, yellow marks or stunt the growth. Used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species — see list of Lepidoptera which feed on Chrysanthemum.
Species
The genus once included many more species, but has been split. The defining species, Chrysanthemum indicum, was also changed, then changed back after much controversy thereby restoring the economically important florist's chrysanthemum to the genus Chrysanthemum. These species were, after the splitting of the genus but before the ICBN ruling, commonly treated under the genus name Dendranthema.
The other species previously treated in the narrow view of the genus Chrysanthemum are now transferred to the genus Glebionis. The other genera split off from Chrysanthemum include Argyranthemum, Leucanthemopsis, Leucanthemum, Rhodanthemum, and Tanacetum.
About 160 species, including:
| Latin | Synonyms | Common names | USDA Zones | Sunset Zones |
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| Chrysanthemum aphrodite | x | none | 0 | na |
| Chrysanthemum arcticum | Arctanthemum arcticum | none | 0 | 1-24, 32-45 |
| Chrysanthemum argyrophyllum | x | none | 0 | na |
| Chrysanthemum arisanense | x | none | 0 | na |
| Chrysanthemum balsamita | Tanacetum balsamita | Costmary | 0 | 2-24, 28-41 |
| Chrysanthemum boreale | x | none | 0 | na |
| Chrysanthemum chalchingolicum | x | none | 0 | na |
| Chrysanthemum carinatum | x | Summer Chrys., Tricolor Chrys. | 0 | All zones |
| Chrysanthemum chanetii | x | none | 0 | na |
| Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium | x | none | 0 | na |
| Chrysanthemum coccineum | Pyrethrum roseum, Tanacetum coccineum | Pyrethrum, Painted daisy | 0 | 2-24, 33-41 |
| Chrysanthemum coronarium | x | Crown daisy | 0 | All zones |
| Chrysanthemum crassum | x | none | 0 | na |
| Chrysanthemum frutescens | Argyranthemum frutescens | Marguerite, Paris Daisy | 0 | 14-24, 26, 28 |
| Chrysanthemum glabriusculum | x | none | 0 | na |
| Chrysanthemum hypargyrum | x | none | 0 | na |
| Chrysanthemum indicum | x | none | 0 | na |
| Chrysanthemum japonense | x | none | 0 | na |
| Chrysanthemum japonicum | x | none | 0 | na |
| Chrysanthemum lavandulifolium | x | none | 0 | na |
| Chrysanthemum leucanthemum | Leucanthemum vulgare | Ox-eye Daisy, Common Daisy | 0 | 1-24, 28-43 |
| Chrysanthemum mawii | x | none | 0 | na |
| Chrysanthemum maximowiczii | x | none | 0 | na |
| Chrysanthemum maximum | C. superbum, Leucanthemum maximum | Shasta Daisy | 0 | 1-24, 26, 28-43 |
| Chrysanthemum mongolicum | x | none | 0 | na |
| Chrysanthemum morifolium | Dendranthema grandiflorum | Florists' Chrysanthemum | 0 | 2-24, 26, 28-41 |
| Chrysanthemum morii | x | none | 0 | na |
| Chrysanthemum multicaule | Nipponanthemum nipponicum | none | 0 | 2-24, 29-41 |
| Chrysanthemum okiense | x | none | 0 | na |
| Chrysanthemum oreastrum | x | none | 0 | na |
| Chrysanthemum ornatum | x | none | 0 | na |
| Chrysanthemum pacificum | Pyrethrum marginatum, Dendranthema pacificum | Gold and Silver Chrys. | 0 | 2-24, 28-41 |
| Chrysanthemum paludosum | Leucanthemum paludosum | none | 0 | All (annual) |
| Chrysanthemum parthenium | Tanacetum parthenium | Feverfew | 0 | 1-24, 28-45 |
| Chrysanthemum potentilloides | x | none | 0 | na |
| Chrysanthemum ptarmiciflorum | Tanacetum ptarmiciflorum | Dusty Miller, Silver Lace | 0 | 16, 17, 19-24 (all as annual) |
| Chrysanthemum rubellum | Dendranthema zawadskii | none | 0 | 1-24, 28-43 |
| Chrysanthemum segetum | x | none | 0 | na |
| Chrysanthemum serotinum | C. uliginosum | none | 0 | 2-9, 14, 28-43 |
| Chrysanthemum shiwogiku | x | none | 0 | na |
| Chrysanthemum sinuatum | x | none | 0 | na |
| Chrysanthemum vestitum | x | none | 0 | na |
| Chrysanthemum weyrichii | Dendranthema weyrichii | none | 0 | 2-6, 32, 34-41 |
| Chrysanthemum yoshinaganthum | x | none | 0 | na |
| Chrysanthemum zawadskii | x | none | 0 | na |
Gallery
A cluster of chrysanthemums
A cluster of chrysanthemums
References
- w:Chrysanthemum. Some of the material on this page may be from Wikipedia, under the Creative Commons license.
- Chrysanthemum QR Code (Size 50, 100, 200, 500)