Not really a plant, but the name given to autumn flowering dome-shaped chrysanths. They will be smothered in literally hundreds and hundreds of small flowers in deep, rich Autumnal shades, they make fabulous plants for outdoors, or neat little domes in containers.
Often called Belgium mums they are so easy to grow and buy. Available in flower from August to September.
They need a sunny position and regular watering, take some time to remove the flowers when they finish and the baby buds hidden underneath will push through and flower. They will flower well into the autumn, even surviving a light frost.
Spend a little time looking after them during the winter and they will flower again.
Plants in pots should be moved to a sheltered spot, cut back the stems and cover with fleece, they will grow and flower again next year.
Plants in the ground should be cut back, cover the crown with an upturned flowerpot, removing it in the spring to allow the shoots to grow, they will flower again in the autumn.
Choosing a plant, if you need instant colour I would choose the plant on the right, it will flower for 4 or 5 weeks, if you take the old flowers off (deadheading) more buds will appear from below. The plant on the left is only just starting to flower it is about 2 weeks behind the plant on the right, so it will flower for longer.
You can often see plants in green bud, nothing wrong with them you will just need to wait for the buds to open, depending on the weather and time of year this could be 3-6 weeks
Chrysanths can be all shapes and sizes, the only thing you need to know is that they have finished growing now. If it’s small when you buy it, remember it won’t grow any bigger.
Easy to grow, buy them with just a few flowers open for best results. Normally sold in flower, they have finished growing so a small plant won’t grow any bigger.
The small bright coloured flower buds can fade as they open. Grown on the nursery in cool bright greenhouses but usually outdoors , they don’t like warm dark stores and can deteriorate quickly. avoid stretched or yellow-leaved plants.
