Growing chrysanthemums - what you really need to know!

[@EatingAnElephant]

I wanted to tell you how grateful I am for these informative videos. I've always wanted an English garden and with your help, tips and tricks and the added references I am attempting just that! I live in the US in zone 8A, southern Mississippi. I am so excited to use the plants you share in my cottage garden. Thank you, truly.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@gryl7471]

I live in 8B West Coast. I have grown mums since the 90's. They're super easy and thrive .You should have no problems. And YAY! to making the garden of your dreams. Alexandra has the best advice.

[@joycefleischer3784]

Hi, Alexandra. I have had a pale pink chrysanthemum called Sheffield Pink for about 15 years. It has slowly spread and has bloomed for the past month in zone 6b in Rhode Island. It is covered in blossom attracting many types of pollinators and makes a magnificent sight on a slope near the sidewalk where many walking by stop to admire it. Thank you for bringing attention to this beautiful plant.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

That sounds beautiful!

[@Holly_at_gypsyhollergardens]

One of my favorites !!! My established hardy ones actually bloom twice , early spring and then in fall ! absolutely stunning .

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

How interesting!

[@johnsantangelo7773]

I am in NY (USA) zone 6B and mine are blooming now, the last of the flowers for the season so I very happy to have them

[@mkitchens8163]

My favorite garden month is October, so I add asters and a couple of hardy/heirloom chrysanthemums every year. My very first one was Clara Curtis (Country Girls), and it is a spreader, but such beautiful pink blooms in the fall! I find that some are more vigorous spreaders than others. I usually cut my chrysanthemums and asters back at least twice by about a third, but not after mid-July. I am adding a few you've shown to my want list, but I wonder if they're available under different names in the USA. I also love the mounding ones sold in garden centers in Fall and have been successful in having those come back for second and sometimes third years. Zone 7B, North MS. I watch your channel weekly.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

That's a good tip about cutting them back more than once. I suspect the different varieties do have their equivalents in the USA, although I don't actually know the US plant companies.

[@jennifermcduffie6889]

We snip the tops back on Mothers Day, Fathers, & once again on the 4th of July to make them bushier and prevents them from flopping over. Works for me in zone 7A

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

A good tip! I shall remember it.

[@dancoopergarden]

What a great tip! I’ll try that next year. Thank you 🙏

[@paul2559]

Another great video! I really appreciated the time jump, showing how it started and how it ended the season. Please do more videos like this highlighting life cycles of specific flowers. This video gave me a new appreciation for chrysanthemums.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you! Yes, I'd love to do more lifecycle ones and will certainly try. They're a little more complex to set up, but not impossible.

[@dancoopergarden]

I’m so delighted you enjoyed the video. We loved making it!

[@kathleenwilliamson174]

I haven't seen them grown in gardens, only in pots to decorate in the autumn. I over wintered some from last year that I had bought to decorate our porch. They are blooming wonderfully this autumn , and I will plant them in my garden along with the plants I bought this autumn. Thank you for showing us that it is possible and they have their rightful place in our gardens : ). I also love that you showcase different plants in you videos, like this one.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you! Just a warning, not all of the chrysanthemums sold in pots do well in the garden, some are very much pot varieties and like to be sheltered in winter, but it's well worth trying it.

[@PatriciaG99]

Love them but don't have any. Now I've watched this I will give them a go. Thank you

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

That's great to hear

[@mt2766]

Now that I’ve watched your video, my preference for chrysanthemums have gone from neutral to “must have”! Thanks, Alexandra, for another informative video. ❤

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@dancoopergarden]

I’m so delighted that you’ve been converted to chrysanthemums 🏵

[@slomo1716]

I LOVE MUMS! My son bought me a beautiful pot of purple/pink flowers for my birthday in May, which I planted in my garden. The blooms died off but in the fall I had the most spectacular plant with the most beautiful flowers. I was so sad when they didn't grow back this year, but now I suspect it's because I cut back to the ground, instead of cutting back to 6 inches and mulching. However, the other mums, purchased for a fall display appeared this fall beautiful yellow and white flowers. Great video about a fav of mine- MUMS!!!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you! And it may have been the purple/pink one just wasn't hardy enough - the variable in hardiness when I was fact-checking was extraordinary. I saw everything from Chrysanthemums that can tolerate minus 26C (not sure I believed that) to Mums that don't like even the slightest waft of frost.

[@dancoopergarden]

Don’t be too sad about losing your mums! They’re a bit fussy about getting wet. Thankfully they’re super easy to propagate and replace.

[@belwynne1386]

I love touring this particular allotment. Dan is so knowledgeable and has a great aesthetic.

[@dancoopergarden]

You are very kind, thank you!

[@ludmilabevan3283]

Thank you Alexandra. I absolutely love chrysanthemums for their late autumn blooms an variety of colours. Liked the idea growing them in pots. This is exactly what I will do with mine next year. Thank you for this video. Great tips! ❤

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you so much!

[@dancoopergarden]

I’m so happy you enjoyed it.

[@jennienorcutt7767]

Hello 🤗. I planted a garden mum in a bed years ago. The bed is now full of free range mums in several colors and I love them. So, they can scatter seed and spread. They are lovely right now, even though I didn't Chelsea chop them and stake them like I should have. Thank you for the great video!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I'm really interested to hear that they've spread, especially 'free range' (always good!)

[@dancoopergarden]

I love the idea of free-range mums 😍 So many images conjured!

[@flowerpixel]

Thanks so much for this video. I'm obsessed with chrysanthemums. I think they're stunning

[@pcnews4858]

My mum hated chrysanths because here in Italy they are bought for 2 November, commemoration of the dead day, and are seen all over cemeteries. In Australia, where I was born, they come out in May around Mother's Day! Mum always warned us never to give her those as flowers for that special day. I now presume she was somewhat suspicious of the associated links! Anyway your video was beautiful and inspiring. My garden could use some chrysanths right now. I want to give them a go next year, starting in spring as your expert suggested. Thanks so much.

[@dancoopergarden]

I have been made aware of chrysanthemums’ negative connotations in Italy. Then I had to laugh when I noticed that our local Italian restaurants used them on their tables for decoration. All these associations demonstrate the flowers’ rich history. Dan

[@pcnews4858]

@@dancoopergarden When you're very young your parents' ideas influence you more than you realize. Takes a lot of years to shake things off. Guess I've got a lot of years on my shoulders now!! Never to late to "grow" (into) something better. Thanks Dan.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I have really liked the ones Dan gave me in spring, and they survived our harsh summer very well

[@andrea-bero]

What a lovely collection he has 😍

[@HowsItGrowing]

Love them! What beautiful varieties! I am not sure why I don’t grow them, but now I want to. 🥰

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I think we all think about those garage forecourt flowers...

[@dancoopergarden]

You should 🏵

[@lilwilliams7277]

I will definitely be adding chrysanthemums in the spring. Lots of information. Thank you.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@penelopehammerton2907]

I shall have to watch this video at least twice more, it was so informative. With pencil and paper this time to write down my favourites. Thank you both for a great video.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad it was helpful!

[@dancoopergarden]

It was my pleasure. Alexandra is such a pro to work with!

[@hannahbest2274]

Thanks,for this, that’s great video

[@donaldauguston9740]

Loved this episode. I enjoy chrysanthemums but I don't have any. I think Dan has talked me into getting some. Thank you. DA

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Great! I am delighted with the two I've grown this year.

[@dancoopergarden]

I am glad I persuaded you Donald 😊

[@katipohl2431]

Burnt Orange looks like a must-have. Here in Germany I am having hardy chrysanthemums with blossoms and the survived for some years already.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I think Burnt Orange is lovely, like a firework

[@kurthartle5473]

Yes, wonderful colour!

[@ireneNL9349]

Dear Alexandra, Thank you for your very informative films. Having spent the afternoon digging up dahlias (with another 9 to go!) crysanthemums sound much easier so I am very tempted to give some a go. Thank you, Irene, Amsterdam.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you. Depending on how cold and wet your climate is, you may find it worth leaving the dahlias in, as many are hardy to about minus 5-10C/4-14F, especially if you have well drained soil.

[@amyjones2490]

Heleniums are also a good late autumn flower. I have always loved chrysanthemums ever since I saw my first corsage made with the giant flowers at 7 years old. Mine looked lovely this autumn in the garden this year.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Heleniums are a great suggestion, too.

[@JoannaLouise200]

Thank you Alexandra ~ I love Chrysanthemums! Such pertinent questions to Dan Cooper, and fab advice back. Coincidently, just a few days ago, I paired a pot of white chrysanthemums with a pot of brilliant red zonal pelargoniums on my doorstep, and the combination is stunning!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Sounds brilliant!

[@dancoopergarden]

I imagine it was a show-stopping combo. Bravo!

[@mzundastud07]

This is really informative as I’m doing chrysanthemums this year for the first time, they were a favourite of my late grandmother, so I am looking forward to hopefully getting some fabulous flowers later in the year 🫶🏼

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

They really are surprisingly fabulous, good luck

[@BeautifulOaks]

I like chrysanthemums but I don’t recall ever growing them. Just their cousin, calendula. I have to grow them in pots in case they need a quick change of location when the weather turns brutal.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I hadnt really thought about calendula being a cousin, but of course it has a similar smell.

[@alisonburgess345]

Terrific video - I really like chrysies and think they're overlooked by flower farmers. I've got a 10 m bed of them (small cuttings this season) growing away nicely. I shall now pinch them after watching this! One was accidentally pinched (possibly nibbled by a wallaby) and has nice side shoots underway. Thanks for such a comprehensive video and thanks to Dan for his advice.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you, and what a convenient wallaby!

[@dancoopergarden]

You are very welcome! 😊

[@upnorth21]

This year I planted my long coveted Sheffield Pink Chrysantemums and Monch Aster. I couldn't be more pleased! They were definitely the longest flowering in my Zone 5b garden, all the way to mid November! Thank you for great video, always learn from you and the experts!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Great to hear, especially from a garden that is so much colder than mine!

[@bairdgardens3925]

another great video!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@MargaretUK]

Thank you Alexandra for reminding me about Chrysanthemums, I will be trying some in pots next year. Great advice as always from Dan 👍

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@dancoopergarden]

Thank you so much Margaret 🙏

[@MargaretUK]

@@dancoopergarden You're welcome, and I have just subscribed!

[@ІнгаОлександрівнаЄрмак]

hello from Ukraine! I have been growing dahlias for the last few seasons. I also had several varieties of chrysanthemums. This season I want to buy 10 new varieties of chrysanthemums, beautiful flowers with a delicate aroma!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

They are beautiful flowers

[@deano1018]

Thanks Alexandra, you’ve inspired me to try and grow some hardy varieties.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

That's great to hear.

[@suesandlin-plaehn3565]

I always enjoy watching your videos ! Excellent and useful information. Also, I do love chrysanthemums. My Grandmother grew many varieties very successfully as did my Great-Grandmother. The family has been located in Eastern North Carolina since the early 1700ies, and we have always had flower gardens.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@dancoopergarden]

Long may that continue. I also come from a long line of gardeners 😊

[@mikeadamson6696]

Hi Alexandra , watched your video again as I have decided to plant Chrysanthemums for the first time . I have ordered some very nice specimens from Halls of Heddon and can't wait to see them flower

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Hope it goes well!

[@henniejacobs8496]

Well done, as usual, Alexandra. You learn more in ten minutes or so of your vids than you do in hours long of others. My chrysanthemum's staying in the ground now (yay! Less work!)

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@johnascialpi5247]

love this only thing is deadheading well side shoot cutting is useful for larger blooms- for a more rounded look cutting all around the bush is best its also important to do this at different stages of growing! just some tips between the styles your going for with chrysanths.excited to order some cuttings but its winter already!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Interesting!

[@johnascialpi5247]

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden aw thank you love your videos

[@seanjamescameron]

I grew up next to a world champion chrysanthemum grower, the large single blooms. It was interesting to watch every summer when he would cover every bloom with their own white paper bag and then a week before exhibiting them he would gently brake open the bags to see what the bloom had to offer.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

That is dedication!

[@robturvey9156]

I am sure that the advice about full sun is good but I have had perfectly acceptable results with several varieties in quite heavy dry shade with minimal care.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

That's great to hear. I'm always amazed at how much tougher plants are than we think. There was the most extraordinary range of hardiness given by different quite reliable authorities when I was fact-checking this, I suspect many are also much hardier to cold than we believe.

[@dancoopergarden]

That’s a very interesting observation, which I am sure will provide encouragement for lots of gardeners!

[@elisaangel9789]

Love them!

[@sunitashastry5270]

Mums. I have some success with them in the ground - there is one pink one, and the yellows that come back in well drained soil. I have not tried overwintering in a basement. Thanks for that tip. I am going to try this year. I am in Zone 5 in central Illinois.

[@dorothylaplante7243]

Wow, so beautiful. Thank you for sharing this information. My garden thanks you.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@-kattya-]

Thank you! It was very informative 😊 I love chrysanthemums!!❤

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I'm so glad!

[@SpanishEclectic]

Another timely video. Chrysanthemums aren't something I would plant for fragrance, but they are showy and don't require much work. My plants are in pots; one has very small dark red blossoms, and the other is the larger Chinese type with curled petals in medium purple. The red is low growing, and has bloomed since late July. I snipped off the dead flowers, and it's now in a second bloom. The purple one only blooms in late fall, and is leggy if not trimmed back and staked in early spring. That plant has lived in the same pot for over 10 years. I water them once a week unless we have a heat wave, and give them a bit of fish emulsion if I think about it. We don't go below 25F/-4C. Exciting week here in Southern California; it rained all day Tuesday, for the first time since early April. I have 30 containers of rain water from under the drip lines of our roof, ready to go into the big barrels for storage. I loved seeing all the varieties of "mums". :)

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you, and so glad you have rain. We have suddenly got rather too much, but that's better than too little.

[@kruczek4646]

I have got chrysanthemums in my garden in Poland (zone 6b). They start flowering in October and November 😉

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I saw lots of different information about how cold chrysanthemums could go, so it's good to hear of them doing well in a colder garden than we have here.

[@kruczek4646]

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden We have even minus 30C in winter and they do well😀

[@tarheelscouse4644]

This is the first year I've had Chrysanthemums, after seeing them in a neighbour's garden last winter. I've got Chrysanthemum 'Jessie Cooper' (incredible single neon pink and yellow flower), which (in London, at least) seems to flower from October to December no matter the weather- they look wonderfully summery even as the rest of my border is going over. I have found that the petals of the flowers seem to be a bit of a slug magnet- may just be this cultivar, but I might suggest slug protection :)

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Good recommendation, I will look out for that, and for the slugs. So far OK with Burnt Orange in my garden.

[@dancoopergarden]

Nibbling can be an issue, especially from baby slugs and snails in autumn. Plant plenty and the damage won’t be noticeable. Look out for my namesake, ‘Daniel Cooper’, which is a softer pink.

[@ThreeRunHomer]

Central Park in NYC had a big border of Korean mums in the autumn. Beautiful.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Sometimes park plantings can be really interesting

[@adilagram]

I am inspired! So usefu advice. Thank you so much

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@glen4075]

Love.❤ thank you Alexandra.

[@DownButNotOutYet]

Hello Alexander, I "love" them. They are just gorgeous. I love the round head, dark pink, and that orange/brown flower. They perform stunningly. In actual fact, they all are just lovely. They make excellent fillers as well. I have seen them grow in large pots and placed on the steps leading up to a front door and they were beautiful. People always forget about the kitchen back door, I don;t know why. I think chrysanthemums the big single ones is Japan's national flower. Don't see any of those exceptional blooms anymore. Maybe next time you visit Dan you can ask him. Alas, I am not living in Britain so his answer might not help me, but you never know. Glad that your cutting took so well, now you can take care of them and enjoy them for many years, even take some fresh cuttings and plant them to grow in a large pot. Thank you for your interesting talk, your always give me hope to persevere and not give up on gardening. Have a lovely day, go well, kind regards Elize

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@dancoopergarden]

I think those big blooms require a lot of care and attention - more than most of us care to give. The smaller flowers cost virtually nothing and look better in a vase 💐

[@DownButNotOutYet]

@@dancoopergarden Thank you so much, I can imagine the attention and the Japanese have that and patience. Those single big blooms are exquisite in a bouquet. Love the smaller blooms. Go well.

[@juliabinford6500]

I would love to try this in a container to see how they do here in the Pacific Northwest zone 8b. I don’t recall seeing them for sale here. I’ll research purchasing options.

[@railovyrailovy6849]

I love all your videos and this one is stunning again 💖. I live in France but over here we don't see hardy mums being sold in spring. Do you know which online shop has a good selection of hardy mums and would ship over potted babies , or cuttings? I am familiar with Farmer Gracy for bulbs but any advice for mums?

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you. One of the previous commenters said they live near the largest chrysanthemum nurseries in the world, in Holland, so it may be worth googling 'Dutch sellers of hardy chrysanthemums'

[@dancoopergarden]

I’ve had a look and, unfortunately, your options from the UK are limited because of Brexit. I shall let you know if I come up with any good suggestions but I would perhaps look towards Italy rather than the UK for delivery to France. Dan

[@railovyrailovy6849]

@@dancoopergarden that is so very kind of you ! maybe one day I'll tour UK and stop by your garden to appreciate this beautiful place

[@julielaughland5078]

Great advice, thank you. Will you be taking cuttings from your plants? If so it would be good to follow their progress. I have some spray chrysanthemums which I’ve multiplied by dividing but have never tried cuttings.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I'm going to start by leaving them in over winter, as I usually have quite mild winters (though everything seems so unpredictable at the moment.). But yes, I hope to take cuttings in spring.

[@dancoopergarden]

Cuttings are very easy Julie and they make vigorous, floriferous plants. Divisions are not quite as vigorous but even easier!

[@jademurray8235]

Brilliant info Dan🌿💚🌿💚🌿💚🤩🙂💃🏾

[@dancoopergarden]

Thank you so much!

[@rachelmcleod7261]

I prefer Asters. I find them to be less fussy and tolerate a hot dry summer better.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Asters are lovely too!

[@paulasmith3590]

I love my mums I have at least thirty to forty in my yard. I love all the colors and they last for weeks. They all come back the next year. I have clay and rock. Zone 4.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

That's great, because I had seen some info online about chrysanthemums surviving very cold temperatures but I wasn't sure whether I could rely on it, so it's good to hear confirmation.

[@wayneenglish2658]

Thank you as always for your wonderful information

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@marcusseidel6824]

Here in Flanders ...near Staden ( West Flanders) there are the biggest Chrysanthemum nurseries in the world. I like the new varieties ...but it s sad that old fashion varieties dissappear .

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

That must be an amazing sight.

[@railovyrailovy6849]

Hi Marcus, do you know if they have an online shop shipping to France?

[@marcusseidel6824]

@@railovyrailovy6849 Sorry I have no idea. But in Menen, which is very close to the border to France you can visit Floralux ( a very big gardencenter ...too big to be good.)

[@SB_McCollum]

I hadn't really thought about chrysanthemums before but they might solve some design issues for me. I live in a small ranch style house in the US and have become resigned to the fact that English cottage gardening just isn't going to work with my house, at least out front. Chrysanthemums would be a very mid-century bloom and it would work with feel of the neighborhood. Thanks for this idea!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I'm glad to hear that, hope it goes well. They are beautiful flowers.

[@mitzi605]

I love them. Here in Oregon they are sold in the fall. They say if you get them in quickly they will root in before the frost knocks them down. I am in zone8. I have good luck with them returning,but sometimes I don't always know where they are because they are slow to wake up.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Good point!

[@mariesmyckova293]

I love them, but it's so hard to find those old varieties around here. The nurseries only sell those bushy potted ones which do not survive more than 2 or 3 years in the ground in our climate, as they say people are afraid growing the other ones is difficult and don't buy them. Do you recommend some really hardy varieties to search for online? Definitely at least -15°C hardy. Thank you!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

This is the online supplier that Country Lane Flowers use and they say they're very helpful. If they don't mail out to where you live, they may know who does: www.chrysanthemumsdirect.co.uk/

[@mariesmyckova293]

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden Thank you very much! They unfortunately don't sell outside UK, but have much needed information already available online already.

[@dancoopergarden]

Look out for the Korean varieties, but especially ‘E.H. Wilson’. It’s more about having good drainage than how cold it gets. Good luck!

[@mariesmyckova293]

@@dancoopergarden Thank you, I'll try to find that variety to start with. I already have some anonymous chrysanthemums my grandma used to grow, but they are not doing very well, but the drainage may actually be an issue in that case. I'll focus on that.

[@dwoodbury]

Chrysanthemums go nicely with Asters I think and both bloom in the Autumn.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Absolutely!

[@ShannonHolyoake]

I have a question I planted yellow mums and maroon mums in separate areas but this year my yellow is blooming first n it has multi color its yellow n maroon this years ....why n how did yellow become yellow n maroon

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Plants sometimes interbreed - I've had the same with dahlias, where a bright pink dahlia interbred with a purple one. Also sometime they 'revert' to an earlier version - if the yellow one was originally maroon, it tries to go back to it.

[@kathyraidt16]

I hadn't even thought about growing chrysanthemums. I think I'll try them next spring. Good idea!

[@ringerheringa3052]

When we bought the house 50 years ago the garden had some Chrysanthemums in it. Emperor of China. They're still here and are flowering atm. Very easy plants.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Dan said that if people have chrysanthemums in their garden from previous owners, they're often Emperor of China.

[@dancoopergarden]

An absolute classic. Can’t beat it!

[@Cassieskins21]

👍👍

[@anne-mariettappous9759]

👍👍👍

[@kiranskitchen291]

Paati phool h ye, Chrysanthemums bhi kahte h

[@llmifg]

I never see them grown in gardens, must be our heavy soil. The potted plants sold alongside pumpkins have gone completely out of fashion. I think the nursery industry has bred out all their charm.

[@dancoopergarden]

I take your point, but you need to look back for the varieties that came before. They have much more style and elegance, without all that uniform stiffness. Dan.

[@god9687]

Take the third hit 😂

[@paulinecrispin121]

I have never had any luck with 'mums', although I will admit to nit trying very hard. From time to time I have received pot plants as. gifts and then tried to grow them on. I see from your video that I have been doing the wrong thing with the wrong type of plants 🪴

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Yes, I think the ones we get given don't really work in the garden. Although I am sure there are some that might surprise us.