New variety of mum is sure to please fall gardeners

TIM MOREHOUSE, GANNETT NEWS SERVICE

Originally published September22, 2001

Chrysanthemums, providing bursts of fall color in the landscape, rank high among gardeners' best-loved flowers.

Botanists have been arguing over the name of the genus, changing Chrysanthemum x morifolium to Dendranthema x grandiflorum, but to most of us, mum is still the word and the plant remains the backbone of the late summer to fall garden.

I remember when displays of fall mums at roadside stands and garden centers were a sure sign of fall, but today, flowering mums are offered year-round. The potted mums we see in groceries and floral shops might be annuals. If in doubt, simply plant a gift mum -- after the blooms have faded -- and see if it returns the following spring.

New this fall is a hardy mum from My Favorite Co. called "Autumn Red." Its daisylike blooms are a deep burgundy red accented by bright yellow centers. The massed buds appear the first season on a round, foot-high plant. But be sure to provide plenty of space for future years: By its third year, it can grow to the size of a loveseat flaunting a canopy of 5,000 flowers during its four- to five-week blooming season. It does not require pinching to keep its compact shape.

"Autumn Red" will be widely available this fall. You can spot it at the nursery because of its distinctive teal blue pot. (In the spring and fall of 2002, look for additional My Favorite Co. mums, "Yellow Quill," "White" and "Twilight Pink.")

All fall mums are "short day" plants. They need short days and long nights to initiate flower buds. In areas where a killing frost does not occur until late October, you can lengthen the blooming season by selecting chrysanthemums in a mixture of early, midseason and late cultivars.

All mums grow best in full sun in average to rich, well-drained soil. If water collects around the plants, the crowns will rot.

Water mums regularly throughout the summer. Once plants come into bloom, deadhead faded flowers to make room for buds that are just opening. After flowering ceases, cut back plants 3 to 6 inches and once the ground has frozen, mulch with straw, hay or evergreen branches.

In early spring, dig up large clumps of mums, discarding any dead centers. This may be a good time to share extra plants with neighbors and gardening friends.

You can find My Favorite Co. mums, including "Autumn Red," at Lowe's and Home Depot.

The Olympian Copyright 2001

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