Perennial Chrysanthemum are a genus of shrubby plants that carry lots of flowers.
These flowers are long lasting and bloom from summer until the first frost of autumn.
The Chrysanthemum plant ranges in size from 10 to 90 cm (4 to 36 inches).
Some of the common names for Chrysanthemum include Feverfew, Painted daisy and pyrethrum. Go here for info on Annual Chrysanthemum.
Perennial Chrysanthemums, White Mums photograph by Emilian Robert Vicol under Creative Commons Licence.
Common Names: Chrysanthemum, Feverfew, Painted Daisy, Pyrethrum, Shasta Daisy.
Family: Asteraceae.
Life Cycle: Hardy perennial.
Height: 4 to 36 inches (10 to 90 cm).
Native: North-east Europe, Asia.
Growing Region: Zones 2 to 9.
Chrysanthemums should be sown onto the surface in the before the last frost of spring or in the autumn.
They should be grown in an area of the garden that has good drainage, and receives at least six hours of sunlight per day.
If you plan to first grow Chrysanthemum seedlings indoors first, then they should be started about two months before you plan to put them out, in mid spring or autumn.
The seedlings should be planted out with a spacing of about 30cm (small species) or 50cm (large), into a rich soil of pH 5.5 to 7.
Chrysanthemum require regular watering. To encourage bushy growth, Perennial Chrysanthemums should be pinched back with every 15 cm (6 inches) of new growth.
Fertilizer should be applied a couple of weeks after planting, and when the plant reaches an height of about 30 cm (1 foot).
Once flowers are spent, they should be removed.
I hope that you enjoyed this guide on how to grow Chrysanthemum plants. You may also enjoy the following Gardener's HQ growing guides: How to grow Gerbera, Yucca gloriosa plant, and Buphthalmum plants.