Birthday
HydrangeasPrepared with UFL flower delivery. The chrysanthemum, «golden flower» in Greek, is one of the world’s most popular blooms and second only to the rose in cut-flower sales. Botanists recognise a few dozen species and growers have bred thousands of cultivars. Here is how they are grouped and which to choose for the garden, a pot or a bouquet.
How chrysanthemums are classified
There is no single worldwide system: Europe and China use about 10 classes, while the UK and US use up to 15. For gardeners and buyers the most practical groupings are flower form and size, flowering time and use.
By flower form
- Single — one or two rows of ray petals around an open yellow centre, like a daisy.
- Anemone — a raised cushion of short tubular florets in the centre.
- Pompon — small, tight balls.
- Globular (incurved) — large double balls of inward-curving petals.
- Spider — long tubular petals with curled tips (Anastasia).
- Spoon — tubular petals that widen at the tip like little spoons.
- There are also flat, reflexed, curly and quilled forms.
By flower size
- Large-flowered — heads 10–25 cm on 80–120 cm stems, mostly greenhouse-grown for cutting because they do not survive winter outdoors. Well-known varieties: Zembla, Anastasia, Antonov, Tom Pearce.
- Medium-flowered — 8–15 cm, for beds, pots and cutting.
- Small-flowered (Korean) — 2–9 cm flowers, dozens per plant; the hardiest group, overwintering in the garden with light cover.
By flowering time
- Early — August–September.
- Mid-season — September–October.
- Late — October–November, until frost, including the ball-shaped multiflora types.
Garden, cut and potted chrysanthemums
- Garden — mostly small-flowered Korean types; they overwinter if cut back to 10–15 cm in autumn and mulched.
- Multiflora (garden mums) — form a neat ball on their own and flower profusely, but in most of Ukraine they are best lifted and stored at 0…+5 °C for winter.
- Cut — large single-stem and spray chrysanthemums from greenhouses, available all year.
- Potted — compact varieties sold in flower in autumn; plant them out after flowering.
Popular chrysanthemums for bouquets
- Baltica — a spray type with white or coloured double flowers.
- Santini — small button flowers in many colours, perfect for compact bouquets.
- Anastasia — a single-stem spider mum in green, white or lilac.
- Zembla — a large semi-globular bloom in white, yellow or lilac.
- Antonov — the classic large white chrysanthemum.
Order chrysanthemums with delivery in Kyiv.
Caring for a chrysanthemum bouquet
- Chrysanthemums are champions of vase life, lasting 2–3 weeks.
- Cut the stems at an angle and split woody ends slightly.
- Remove every leaf below the waterline — they rot first.
- Change the water every 2–3 days and keep the vase away from radiators.
FAQ
What does the chrysanthemum symbolise?
In Japan it is the imperial flower and a symbol of long life; in China it stands for autumn, wisdom and plenty. In some European countries white chrysanthemums are funeral flowers, so coloured ones are better for gifts.
Do chrysanthemums survive winter in the garden?
Small-flowered Korean types do, with light cover. Large-flowered types and most multiflora mums are best lifted.
How many kinds of chrysanthemum are there?
A few dozen species and thousands of cultivars, with new ones every year.
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Author: Maria Svitlovir
Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.
