Site
Light –Mums require full sun to do well.  If shaded, they will have tall, weak stems and delayed, poor quality blooms.  Avoid planting near outdoor lighting because flowering is triggered by longer nights.

Soil – Mums can be planted in a variety of soils, but they do best in rich loam that is well-drained, yet retains moisture.  Soil that is too wet will impede growth and increase the risk of winterkill.  Soil containing high amounts of clay should be replaced.  Amend the soil with peat moss, compost, or rotted manure. 

Planting
When – Bare root plants should be planted in early spring as soon as the ground can be worked. Potted mums may be planted throughout the growing season, although the best time to plant is in the spring just after the danger of frost has passed. 

How – Prepare for planting by working 2-4” of hummus into a 9” radius around the hole. The hole should be about 1½ times as large as the spread of the roots.  For bare root plants, remove from the package immediately, trim damaged roots, and soak overnight.  Make a cone of soil in the hole’s center and spread the roots out over the cone.  Cover the roots with soil until the growing points are just below the soil level.  Water thoroughly and fertilize with a starter solution (read and carefully follow the starter fertilizer directions). Potted plants should also be soaked in their container and left to drain overnight.  Remove them carefully from the pot and plant so the soil from the pot is level with the ground soil.  Water thoroughly and fertilize with a starter solution. Pinch off any buds or open flowers to force the plant’s energy into root and foliage growth.  When the nights lengthen, news buds will form.

Spacing –Space plants 18-24” apart depending on the height of the plant when mature.  Adequate space allows for good air circulation and helps prevent disease.

Care
Watering –Watering plants regularly throughout the growing season is necessary for lush foliage, early flowering, and a profusion of blooms.  Water more often when mums are planted on sandy soil or the summer is unusually dry.

Mulch – When the ground warms in summer, you may mulch around the base of the plant with 2-3” of grass clippings, shredded bark, pulverized leaves, or pine needles.  Do not use grass clippings that have been treated with chemicals.  Summer mulch retains soil moisture and helps prevent weed growth. 

Fertilizer – Mums require more feeding than other plants.  Ideally, they should receive an application of fertilizer bi-weekly.  Alternatively, mums can be fertilized twice a year—once with 3-4 pounds per square foot of a slow-release fertilizer in the spring and again in late summer as the buds begin to form.

Weeding –Weeds should be minimal if summer mulch is used.  Mums have shallow root systems and can be damaged by cultivation near their crowns. To prevent damage, pull weeds near the crown by hand.

Deadheading – Since mums flower so late in the season, deadheading will not encourage repeat flowering, but will give the plant a more pleasant appearance.  Pinching, a traditional practice with older mum varieties, creates a bushier, stockier plant with more blooms.  The growing tips of the plant are pinched out when the plant is 6” tall.  The tips of lateral branches should also be pinched out once the branches are 6” long.  Avoid pinching after mid-June for September flowering varieties and July 1 for October flowering varieties. High temperatures can delay flowering.  Mums continue to flower and flowers maintain color until a killing frost.  The season can be extended by covering plants on cold nights.  Centerpiece is excellent variety for tolerating frost.

Winter Protection – Mums listed inside this brochure have been developed from years of plant breeding at the University of Minnesota.   They have been selected for superb growth, hardiness, and flower characteristics.  Most will overwinter in Minnesota with good protection.  Please note that florist mums sold throughout the year may not prove hardy in Minnesota winters and may not flower before frost.  After the ground has frozen, cut the stems back to the ground, remove debris, and cover with 4-6” of straw, pine needles, or whole leaves.

Dividing – Mums do best when divided and replanted each spring.  Dig them up in the spring just as they show signs of growth.  Wash away all soil from the roots and cut out the center of the plant.  Cut the outer portion of the clump into sections making sure each section has healthy roots with at least 5 stems.  Immediately replant the new divisions as you would a new plant.

Problems
Protect against insects and diseases by purchasing only healthy plants, planting in a sunny location with plenty of air circulation, and removing any weeds or infested plants from your garden.  Recommendations for pesticides change constantly.  To keep up with recommendations, obtain current information from the University of Minnesota Extension Service.

Insects –Mums host many types of insects including aphids, leafhoppers, plant bugs, leaf miners, mites, and caterpillars.  Most are not serious and light infestations can be washed off with a garden hose.  Diagnose problems correctly and read directions carefully before using pesticides.  The best defense is to purchase healthy, non-infested plants and to remove any leaves showing signs of infestation.

Diseases –Diseases often found in mums are septoria leaf spot, bacterial blight, powdery mildew, rust, verticillium wilt, and aster yellows.  Aster yellow can be diagnosed by stunted, purplish plants with greenish flowers.  Because aster yellow can’t be cured, immediately dig up and destroy plants exhibiting those characteristics.

Additional Information
For more information, refer to the University of Minnesota Extension Service Consumer Horticulture webpage at http://www.extension.umn.edu/ConsumerHort/

Sources
Mums may be purchased at local garden centers and nurseries or through mail order sources. The University of Minnesota has introduced a number of hardy, attractive mums over the past 50 years and publishes a color brochure as each new mum is introduced.

Thank you to the individuals and businesses who have contributed to the Chrysanthemum Display by donating plant materials, time, or funding.  This list is informational only and does not represent an endorsement by the University of Minnesota.

 

Variety	Flower Color	Flower Description	Height**	Time of Bloom***
Autumn Fire	Burnt orange	3 1/2” decorative	Tall	Midseason
Betty Lou Max-mum™	Red	2 1/2” button	Medium 30” spread	Early
Burnt Copper	Orange bronze	3” double pompon	Tall	Midseason
Centennial Sun	Golden Yellow	1 1/2” double decorative	Medium	Early
Centerpiece	Rose lavender, gold centers	4” quill	Tall	Early to midseason
Dr. Longley	Bright rose pink	3” flat, decorative	Medium	Early to midseason
Gold Country	Peachy bronze to golden yellow	4” double, decorative	Tall	Midseason
Golden Jubilee	Deep gold	3” decorative	Medium	Early
Golden Star	Rich deep yellow	3 1/2” single spoon	Medium	Early
Goldstrike	Golden yellow	2” pompon	Medium	Early
Grape Glow	Bright rosy purple	3 1/2” flat decorative	Medium	Midseason
Inca	Light bronze orange	2” double button	Low	Early
Lemonsota	Lemon yellow	1” pompon	Low	Midseason
Lindy	Lavender pink	4 1/2” quilled incurve	Tall	Midseason
Mammoth™	Dark Bronze Daisy	3 – 4”	Tall	Late
Mammoth™	Coral Daisy	3 — 4”	Tall	Late
Mammoth™	Lavender Daisy	3—4”	Tall	Late
Mammoth™	Dark Pink Daisy	3—4”	Tall	Late
Mammoth™	Twilight Pink	3—4”	Tall	Late
Mammoth™	White Daisy	3 –4”	Tall	Late
Mammoth™	Yellow Quill	3—4”	Tall	Late
Maroon Pride	Dark red	3 1/2” flat, decorative	Medium	Early
Mellow Moon	Cream	4 1/2” semi-incurved decorative	Medium	Midseason
MinnAutumn*	Reddish bronze	2 1/2” formal decorative	Low	Midseason
Minnglow	Light lemon yellow	2 1/4” decorative	Low	Midseason
Minngopher	Crimson Red	2 1/4” decorative	Low	Late
Minnpink	Rose pink	1 1/2” flat, decorative	Low	Early
Minnqueen	Bright rose pink	3” decorative	Low-medium	Midseason
Minnrose	Deep rose pink	1 1/2” pompon	Low	Midseason
Minnruby	Ruby red	2 1/4” decorative	Low	Midseason
Minnwhite	White	2” decorative	Low	Early
Minnyellow	Rich lemon yellow	2” decorative	Low	Late
Rose Blush	Mauve	2-3” decorative	Low-medium	Midseason
Rosy Glow	Deep rosy pink	4” decorative incurved	Medium	Midseason
Royal Knight	Burgundy, silver underside	3 1/2” reflexed decorative	Tall	Midseason
Royal Pomp	Bright purple	2” pompon-spicy fragrance	Medium	Midseason
Snowscape	White, purple tips	3’ semi-double decorative	Low	Early
Snowsota	White, cream centers	1 1/2” pompon	Low	Midseason
Wayzata	Bright yellow	3” flat, decorative	Tall	Early
Wendy Ann	Fawn yellow	4” semi-spoon	Medium	Early
Yellow Glow	Rich yellow	2 3/4” decorative	Tall	Midseason
Zonta	Apricot bronze	2 1/2” pompon	Medium	Midseason

Time of Bloom***
Autumn Fire	Burnt orange	3 1/2” decorative	Tall	Midseason
Betty Lou Max-mum™	Red	2 1/2” button	Medium 30” spread	Early
Burnt Copper	Orange bronze	3” double pompon	Tall	Midseason
Centennial Sun	Golden Yellow	1 1/2” double decorative	Medium	Early
Centerpiece	Rose lavender, gold centers	4” quill	Tall	Early to midseason
Dr. Longley	Bright rose pink	3” flat, decorative	Medium	Early to midseason
Gold Country	Peachy bronze to golden yellow	4” double, decorative	Tall	Midseason
Golden Jubilee	Deep gold	3” decorative	Medium	Early
Golden Star	Rich deep yellow	3 1/2” single spoon	Medium	Early
Goldstrike	Golden yellow	2” pompon	Medium	Early
Grape Glow	Bright rosy purple	3 1/2” flat decorative	Medium	Midseason
Inca	Light bronze orange	2” double button	Low	Early
Lemonsota	Lemon yellow	1” pompon	Low	Midseason
Lindy	Lavender pink	4 1/2” quilled incurve	Tall	Midseason
Mammoth™	Dark Bronze Daisy	3 – 4”	Tall	Late
Mammoth™	Coral Daisy	3 — 4”	Tall	Late
Mammoth™	Lavender Daisy	3—4”	Tall	Late
Mammoth™	Dark Pink Daisy	3—4”	Tall	Late
Mammoth™	Twilight Pink	3—4”	Tall	Late
Mammoth™	White Daisy	3 –4”	Tall	Late
Mammoth™	Yellow Quill	3—4”	Tall	Late
Maroon Pride	Dark red	3 1/2” flat, decorative	Medium	Early
Mellow Moon	Cream	4 1/2” semi-incurved decorative	Medium	Midseason
MinnAutumn*	Reddish bronze	2 1/2” formal decorative	Low	Midseason
Minnglow	Light lemon yellow	2 1/4” decorative	Low	Midseason
Minngopher	Crimson Red	2 1/4” decorative	Low	Late
Minnpink	Rose pink	1 1/2” flat, decorative	Low	Early
Minnqueen	Bright rose pink	3” decorative	Low-medium	Midseason
Minnrose	Deep rose pink	1 1/2” pompon	Low	Midseason
Minnruby	Ruby red	2 1/4” decorative	Low	Midseason
Minnwhite	White	2” decorative	Low	Early
Minnyellow	Rich lemon yellow	2” decorative	Low	Late
Rose Blush	Mauve	2-3” decorative	Low-medium	Midseason
Rosy Glow	Deep rosy pink	4” decorative incurved	Medium	Midseason
Royal Knight	Burgundy, silver underside	3 1/2” reflexed decorative	Tall	Midseason
Royal Pomp	Bright purple	2” pompon-spicy fragrance	Medium	Midseason
Snowscape	White, purple tips	3’ semi-double decorative	Low	Early
Snowsota	White, cream centers	1 1/2” pompon	Low	Midseason
Wayzata	Bright yellow	3” flat, decorative	Tall	Early
Wendy Ann	Fawn yellow	4” semi-spoon	Medium	Early
Yellow Glow	Rich yellow	2 3/4” decorative	Tall	Midseason
Zonta	Apricot bronze	2 1/2” pompon	Medium	Midseason

*      Names beginning with Minn indicate cushion habit of growth.

**    Low: up to 12 inches; medium; 12-18 inches; tall; over 18 inches.  These
         measurements refer to first-year plants properly spaced and grown in full
         sun.

***  Early: starts blooming before September 1; midseason: September 1-15; 
        late September 15 on (Twin Cities Area).

™   All Mammoth™ garden mums are protected by U.S. Plant Patents and
       Canadian Plant Breeder’s Rights. Propagation is prohibited.