Nostalgic, Festive

Throughout the country, near Thanksgiving every year, is one all-time standard flower.. the beautiful Mum. Chrysanthemums or ‘Mums’ are a staple in fall gardens and also a national symbol of fall abundance,

And low country Arizona is no exception.

Garden mums provide a brief but intense splash of color in Phoenix landscapes during late October through Mid-December. They are known to be perennial, but I haven’t found that to be true after 34 years of gardening in the desert.

Obviously, Intolerant of heat; it is advisable not to plant a mum until the temps have stayed below 100 degrees. Garden mums are great as a fall accent in gardens, containers or even as cut flowers for indoors. They are considered a formal plant, so wonderful as a bright and cheery greeting in an entry way, in a corporate or professional office or lobby. Mums are good for an intense, colorful floral display during autumn events such as fall weddings. Being that mums are a constant or known as a consistency they become an added symbolic touch for weddings/baptisms or other devotional events such as religious/spiritual/memorial gatherings. To me, mums don’t have much of a fragrance, and are not known to be overwhelming or offensive. They come in really pretty, bright colors, rust, golden, white and yellow.

(all photos above property of dhunnel)

Mums grow to 2 feet high with a bloom spread from 2-8 inches.

A member of the compositae family; they come in a range of brilliant colors, shapes and sizes. First cultivated in China over 6 centuries ago, this type of compositae was initially grown as an herb associated with the power of life.

There are many varietals of mum, (per wikipedia). Those most likely found in the Phoenix Valley are:

Anemone
These daisy-like blooms feature long, tubular florets clustered around a tight button center. They form a 4-inch bloom in single or multiple colors.
Popular varieties include: Dorothy Mechum, Purple Light and Angel

Decorative
Florists use decorative class mums in floral arrangements. The 5-inch plus blooms have a flat appearance as the florets gradually get longer from the center out.
Popular varieties include: Fireflash, Coral Charm and Honeyglow

Irregular Incurve
Incurve blooms feature florets curving inwards. Irregular incurve mums feature large blooms between 6 to 8 inches. The florets curve in and cover the center of the flower.

Regular Incurve
Regular incurve chrysanthemum blossoms are tight, smooth globes of inwardly curving florets. Each bloom is between 4 to 6 inches in diameter.
Popular varieties include: Gillette, Moira and Heather James

Pompom
Resembling the regular incurve, Pompom mums are only 1 to 4 inches. The tight blooms are common in floral arrangements.
Popular varieties include: Rocky, Yoko Ono and Lavender Pixie

Quilled
Show-stopping quilled chrysanthemums feature long, tubular florets that open to a spoon shape or slight downward curve at the end. Their spiky appearance often mimics other types of mums.
Popular varieties include: Seatons Toffee, Mammoth Yellow Quill and Muted Sunshine

Single and Semi-Double
These daisy look-a-likes feature one or two rounds of ray florets around a compact center. Their total plant size is between 1 to 3 feet, making them ideal for small spaces and borders.
Popular varieties include: Rage, Icy Island and Crimson Glory

Spider
Spider mums are well known for their long, spiky florets of single or multiple colors. The tubular florets resemble spider legs and can go in all directions. The delicate and exotic appearance creates a focal bloom in your garden.
Popular varieties include: Evening Glow, Symphony and Western Voodoo

Spoon
Spoon mums have a button center surrounded by ray florets featuring a spoon shape at each tip. They are often mistaken for single chrysanthemums, but the difference lays in the slight curve.
Popular varieties include: Kimie, Fantasy and Redwing

Many say not to plant in western exposures but I, personally, have had good luck planting in full sun during our cooler months. Just keep them watered.

Mums are plants that love amended composted organic matter. They look best when evenly moist soil is maintained.

Approximately 4 days after buds form, it’s OK to pinch the current flowers off the stalks to increase the new blooms. I space mine apart when planting as it gives them room to breathe. We don’t want them to get too hot, nor do we want them to harbor critters in the chillier evenings. Those critters dig and expose roots and eat whatever they can.

One issue to look out for is, due to the moist soil, mums will attract slugs. Birds will dig in the flower beds to get to the slugs.

Chrysanthemum have long been used as tea in China for medicinal purposes. It is said that mum tea benefits skin care, immune function, improves bone health, vision and healthy metabolism.

Oddly, rumor has it that mums can cause skin to become extra sensitive to the sun. So, if handling mums be sure to wear sunblock outside, especially if you are light-skinned and wash hands immediately after handling. Avoid rubbing anywhere on your face, until you’ve washed your hands.

So doctor up that pot or plot of soil with a little compost and/or peat moss and some moist dark dirt, then pop a 5 gallon mum down in the dirt at least 8-12 inches. Place in a early morning sunny location and water 2-3 times weekly. Instantly, you are ready for the colorful, Thanksgiving season, with an abundance of fresh, cheery, color, making a welcoming statement of abundance and gratitude.

Fun Trivial Fact: Did you Know The Mum was the national flower of Japan in the year 910 for approximately 200 years? It was the seal of the Imperial Family.