Garden Mums

Light Needs

Partial Shade to Full Sun

(At Least 3 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

1-2 Feet

Mature Spread

1-2 Feet

Growing Zones

6 to 8

Hardy garden mums (Chrysanthemum × morifolium) pack autumn landscapes with domes of color just as summer annuals give out. Dense mounds 12 – 24 inches tall cover themselves in hundreds of daisylike or fully double blooms ranging from pumpkin orange to raspberry pink, creamy white, and every sunset tone between. Flowers arrive in waves from early September into November, shrugging off light frosts and filling porch pots, beds, and window boxes with the season’s signature show. Deep‑green, aromatic foliage stays tidy beneath the floral canopy, forming a ready‑made bouquet that needs little shaping.

Beyond their color range, these fall chrysanthemums earn praise for staying compact, resisting most insects, and handling brief dry spells once established. Butterflies sip freely from the nectar‑rich centers, while deer usually pass the aromatic leaves by. Plants grow as low mounds in borders, spill gently from patio containers, or mass beautifully for eye‑catching curb appeal. Repeat one hue for bold blocks of color, or stage an ombré of golds, bronzes, and reds for a designer finish around pumpkins and straw bales.

Garden Mum Care

Set transplants in full sun—six or more hours daily—where soil drains quickly; mix compost in first to loosen clay or sand. Water thoroughly after planting and supply about one inch of moisture each week, aiming the hose at the root zone to keep foliage dry. Feed spring‑planted mums with a balanced, low‑nitrogen fertilizer every four weeks until early August; fall‑planted specimens can wait until next season for food. Pinch the tips of new stems two or three times before July 10 to build the tight, flower‑filled dome garden mums are famous for.

Treat these mums as short‑term color in cold zones, or as perennials where winters stay milder. In USDA Zones 6 – 9, mulch plants with four inches of straw or shredded leaves after the first hard frost, then leave the stems standing until spring for extra insulation. Overwinter container mums by sinking them in the ground or placing them in an unheated garage kept above freezing—water just enough to keep the soil from dust‑drying.

Garden Mum Spacing

Space garden mums 18 – 24 inches apart in beds so their shallow roots have room to expand without competition. One well‑branched plant will fill a 10‑inch patio pot; use three in a 16‑inch porch urn for an instant, overflowing dome. When tucking several into a large whiskey barrel or raised planter, allow about eight inches between root balls so plants can knit together by mid‑season without crowding.