The Chrysanthemum – A Versatile Flower That Suits Most Any Occasion

Chrysanthemums, commonly referred to as mums are a genus of perennial plants. There are about thirty species of this versatile flower. With so many varieties there is a chrysanthemum for practically every climate. Mums also come in a variety of colors; you can find them in every shade but blue. Chrysanthemums have proven to have a variety of uses in today’s society.

The chrysanthemum originated in China. It was first grown as early as the fifteenth century B.C. as a flowering herb. The mum was introduced to western civilization in the seventeenth century. Currently it is an extremely popular and versatile plant, commonly being referred to as the Queen of the Fall Flowers.

Chrysanthemums are most commonly used as ornamental or decorative flowers. With so many species, the blossoms come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors, and are considered by most to be showy flowers. Because they flower late in the season most gardeners will include chrysanthemums in their display in order to keep color in their garden when the rest of the plants are dieing off for the winter.

The flowers of the chrysanthemum plant are also boiled to make a sweet beverage in Asia. This drink is commonly known as chrysanthemum tea and is said to have medicinal purposes. Many believe this dense tea will help fight off the symptoms of the flu.

In addition, certain species of chrysanthemums can be used to make a natural insecticide. It is said to attack the nervous systems of common garden pests and even in its weakest form it can be used to repel insects.

Because mums are such versatile plants many gardeners are happy to include them in their garden. In order to insure that they flourish it is important to care for and maintain them properly.

To begin, plant them in a location that has at least six hours of direct sunlight exposure. Mums do best if they are planted in the spring. And, as with most plants, they require good quality soil with adequate drainage. The soil should have a pH level slightly on the alkaline side for the plant to thrive.

When lots of sun and quality growing soil chrysanthemums can grow in almost any climate and will return to bloom again next year.

Mums also require compost in order to keep them hydrated. After putting the plant on the ground you should place a layer of mulch several inches thick on top of the soil surrounding the base of the plant. This should be repeated two to three times every growing season.

It may also be helpful to use a low nitrogen fertilizer a few times a season to aid in flower production.

In order to make sure your chrysanthemum plant blooms in large quantities, deadheading may be necessary. This involves pinching off the heads of blossoms that are wilting or dieing in order to make room for new growth. This must be done because chrysanthemums are initially plants with a single stem. They must be pinched back regularly to develop additional stems.

Most authorities agree that once your chrysanthemum plant is at least six inches high you should pinch off the top two inches of the plant every four weeks. They believe this will encourage a bushier, stronger plant with many blooms.

When cared for properly this versatile plant will suit almost any occasion or situation. They look stunning is a garden bed, make great accent plants in containers, or brighten up any window when placed in a decorative basket. Besides ornamental uses, some species may be used for insecticide or medicinal purposes.