Garden chrysanthemum

Sun

Full sun, ideally at least 6 hours daily; light afternoon shade is useful in hot climates.

Water

Keep evenly moist while growing and flowering, watering at soil level when the surface begins to dry. Avoid waterlogged soil, especially in winter.

Soil

Fertile, well-drained soil enriched with compost; slightly acidic to neutral soil is ideal.

Height

1-3 ft (0.3-0.9 m)

Spread

1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m)

Flowers

Late summer through autumn, depending on cultivar and day length; white, cream, yellow, orange, bronze, pink, red or purple, often with contrasting centres.

Foliage

Aromatic, lobed green to grey-green leaves on branching stems; top growth usually dies back in winter.

Growth

Moderate to fast during the growing season.

Care needed

Medium

• Plant in spring where winters are cold, giving roots a full growing season to establish.
• Water deeply during dry spells; check containers frequently while plants are flowering.
• Apply a balanced fertiliser in spring according to the label; avoid heavy feeding late in the season.
• Mulch lightly to conserve moisture, keeping mulch away from the crown; add loose winter protection after the ground freezes in cold regions.
• Stake tall cultivars before flower buds become heavy.
• Divide congested clumps every two or three years in spring.

Pruning. For bushier plants, pinch out the soft shoot tips in spring and early summer, stopping by midsummer so flower buds can develop. Remove faded flowers, leave dead stems over winter in cold areas, and cut them down when new growth appears in spring.

Spring

Cut back dead stems as new shoots emerge; divide established clumps and plant new hardy garden cultivars.

Mid-spring

Apply a balanced fertiliser and a light mulch, keeping the crown clear.

Late spring

Pinch growing tips to encourage branching and put supports around taller plants.

Early summer

Continue pinching if needed, but stop by midsummer; water during dry spells.

Autumn

Remove faded flowers and keep flowering plants watered, especially in containers.

Winter

Check drainage and protect established crowns in cold regions; keep tender pot-grown selections frost-free.

• Plant groups through mixed borders to provide colour after many summer perennials have finished.
• Combine bronze, orange or yellow flowers with ornamental grasses for an autumn display.
• Use compact cultivars in entrance pots or courtyard containers, where their rounded shape gives a tidy outline.
• Mix pink, white or purple cultivars with asters and stonecrops in cottage-style borders.

Garden styles it suits: Cottage garden, Traditional, English country, Autumn colour, Hot border and Small-space.

Plant it with: New England aster, Showy stonecrop, Switchgrass, Fountain grass, Black-eyed Susan and Japanese anemone.

Wildlife: Open-centred flowers provide pollen and nectar for bees and other insects late in the season. Densely double flowers offer much less accessible food.

• Winter crown rot: improve drainage, keep the crown clear of wet mulch and avoid low spots where water collects.
• Aphids: check soft shoots and buds; wash colonies off with water or use insecticidal soap according to the label.
• Powdery mildew and leaf spots: allow space for airflow, water at soil level and remove affected fallen leaves.
• Late or absent flowers: stop pinching by midsummer and keep plants away from strong night lighting, which can delay flowering.

All parts are toxic to cats, dogs and horses if eaten, potentially causing drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea and poor coordination; prevent grazing and seek veterinary advice after ingestion. In people, sap and foliage can cause contact dermatitis, especially in those sensitive to the daisy family, and eating the plant may cause stomach upset. Do not use ornamental plants as food or tea.

• Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum × superbum)

  Usually has white rays around a yellow centre, narrower toothed leaves rather than deeply lobed leaves, and a main flowering season in summer.

• Painted daisy (Tanacetum coccineum)

  Has finely divided, fern-like foliage and usually flowers in late spring or early summer, rather than producing the broad lobed leaves and autumn display typical of garden chrysanthemums.

Chrysanthemum comes from Greek words meaning 'golden flower', while morifolium means 'mulberry-leaved', referring to the leaf shape.

Propagation. Divide clumps in spring or root soft basal cuttings from healthy new growth. Seed-grown plants may differ markedly from their parent.

Accepted botanical name

Chrysanthemum morifolium

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.