Prepared 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. Learn more in chrysanthemums in a vase. This is a birth month flower; see November flowers.
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. For the flower’s symbolism, see chrysanthemum meaning.
Multiflora is a group of low garden chrysanthemums that form a neat globe 30–60 cm across without pinching, covered in hundreds of small flowers. These are the potted mums sold at markets and garden centres in autumn, in colours from white and yellow to raspberry, orange and lilac.
Plant multiflora in a sunny spot in spring or early autumn. Most varieties overwinter poorly in central and northern Ukraine, so after flowering the plant is cut back, lifted and stored in a cellar at 0…+5 °C, then replanted in spring. In a pot on a balcony it flowers for 4–6 weeks if watered regularly and kept in the sun.
Planting, care, overwintering and propagation are covered in detail in our guide to multiflora chrysanthemums.
Korean chrysanthemums are small-flowered garden varieties and the most frost-hardy. They overwinter in the ground across most of Ukraine if the stems are cut back and the plant mulched in autumn, and they bloom from September to November.
Spray chrysanthemums are cut-flower varieties with 5–15 blooms per stem — the ones you see most often in bouquets. They last up to three weeks in a vase and come in single, double, pompon and daisy forms.
Order chrysanthemums with delivery in Kyiv.
Daisy chrysanthemums are simple single flowers with an open centre, like a field daisy. The best-known cut variety is white Bacardi with a greenish-yellow eye; yellow, pink and lilac versions exist too. They give a bouquet a light, countryside feel.
White chrysanthemums are a versatile classic: large single-stem Antonov and Zembla White, spray Baltica White and daisy-type Bacardi. White stands for sincerity and purity; read more in our article on chrysanthemum meanings.
Most chrysanthemums sold in autumn are perennial, but not all survive winter outdoors. Annual species (tricolour, crown daisy and corn marigold) are sown from seed in spring, have simple, often ringed flowers and bloom from July. Perennial garden (Korean) types have small double or single flowers and bloom in autumn. Potted multiflora and large greenhouse varieties are perennial too, but tender, so they are lifted for winter. For care and overwintering, see our article on chrysanthemums in the garden.
Chrysanthemums last well and don’t overpower other flowers, so they combine easily: with roses and lisianthus for soft bouquets, hydrangea for volume, alstroemeria and hypericum for warm autumn arrangements, and eucalyptus and grasses for a natural look. For step-by-step instructions, see how to make a chrysanthemum bouquet.
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.
Small-flowered Korean types do, with light cover. Large-flowered types and most multiflora mums are best lifted.
A few dozen species and thousands of cultivars, with new ones every year.
A group of low garden chrysanthemums that naturally form a neat globe covered in small flowers. They bloom in autumn and are lifted for winter in most of Ukraine.
Korean types are the hardiest garden varieties and overwinter in the ground. Multiflora has a neater shape but is more tender and needs to overwinter in a cellar.
Spray Baltica and Santini, daisy-type Bacardi and large single-stem Antonov, Zembla and Anastasia.
Small-flowered Korean garden varieties, which overwinter in the ground across most of Ukraine if cut back and mulched in autumn.
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.
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