Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Garden Mum, Perennial of The Day

Dendranthema x grandiflorum
  syn. Chrysanthemum hortorum; Chrysanthemum x morifolium; Dendranthema x koreanum
   
 Florist's Chrysanthemum,  Garden Mum


Type    Perennial
Hardy range    5A to 10A
Height    12" to 4' / 30cm to 1.20m
Spread    24" to 36" / 60cm to 90cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Rounded
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Orange, pink, purple, red, white and yellow
Bloom Time    Summer and Fall

The flowers are fragrant, showy, suitable for cut flowers and suitable for dried flowers.

Environment
This plant tolerates some salt.
This plant will grow in moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy.
The pH preference is  a neutral soil.

Leaf Color    Green
This plant has attractive foliage and fragrant foliage.

Culture Notes
Some cultivars need pinching to produce nice blooms or staking to maintain form, so check with your local nursery for the specific care of your plant.  These plants are tolerant of heat and humidity.  Leaving the foliage on the plant helps the plant to winter over.  Division can be made in early spring.  Cuttings can be taken early to mid summer.