Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum morifolium
📖 About this plant
One of the most beloved autumn-blooming flowers, chrysanthemums produce spectacular displays of color in shades of white, yellow, orange, red, pink, purple, and bronze. Available in diverse forms from small button mums to large decorative blooms and spider mums. In China and Japan, chrysanthemums hold deep cultural significance as symbols of longevity and royalty.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
Full sun (6+ hrs)
Every 2-3 days
Moderate (40-60%)
15-24°C
Well-draining, fertile loam rich in organic matter; pH 6.0-6.5
Balanced liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks during growing season; high-phosphorus fertilizer when buds begin to form; discontinue feeding after flowering
🌐 Common Names
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- China, East Asia
- 📏 Max height
- 30-90 cm depending on variety and training method
- 📐 Spread
- 30-60 cm
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Fall
- 🎨 Bloom color
- Yellow, White, Pink, Purple
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Green
- ⏳ Lifespan
- Perennial
- 📈 Growth rate
- Moderate
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Toxic — leaves and stems contain pyrethrins and other compounds toxic to cats, dogs, and horses if ingested (vomiting, diarrhea, hypersalivation, dermatitis); contact dermatitis common in sensitive individuals from handling foliage
- 🌱 Propagation
- Take stem cuttings 5-8 cm long in spring; root in moist sand or perlite (2-3 weeks); divide clumps in spring every 2-3 years; pinching encourages bushy growth
🛡️ Health & Safety
Toxic — leaves and stems contain pyrethrins and other compounds toxic to cats, dogs, and horses if ingested (vomiting, diarrhea, hypersalivation, dermatitis); contact dermatitis common in sensitive individuals from handling foliage
Common issues
- Aphid and thrip infestations on buds
- Powdery mildew and leaf spot diseases
- Fusarium wilt in infected soil
- Bud drop from temperature fluctuations
💡 Care tips
- Pinch back stems in early summer for bushier growth
- Multiply by dividing clumps every 2-3 years
- Short-day plant that blooms in response to shorter autumn days
- Available in a stunning range of colors and forms
