When fall rolls around, colorful chrysanthemums—or “mums” as we usually call them—finally get their moment in the spotlight. You’ll see those lush, blooming mounds everywhere, from your local garden center to the grocery store floral aisle. Most people treat them like annuals, tossing them in the compost once the flowers fade, but here’s a little secret: you don’t have to! Most mums can actually be overwintered and enjoyed for years to come.
The Hardy Chrysanthemum
There are over 5,000 varieties of mums out there. Almost all of them, especially the late-blooming “garden mums” or “hardy mums,” are perennials. Once the flowers wither in late fall, you can either plant these hardy varieties directly into your garden beds or prep them to survive the winter in their pots.
How to Overwinter Your Mums
How well your mums handle the winter really depends on the specific variety. True garden mums are quite hardy and can stay outdoors all season long. To keep them cozy, just add a layer of brush, dry leaves, or even your last grass clippings from the mower to protect them from deep freezes. If you’re expecting a long stretch of bitter cold, wrapping the plant in garden fleece can provide an extra layer of insulation.
If you’re keeping hardy mums in pots, they’ll need a little more TLC. Place the pots on an insulating surface (like wood or foam) and wrap the containers in burlap or bubble wrap. Cut the plant back and cover the top with mulch or evergreen branches.
For more delicate varieties, it’s best to bring them into a frost-free space. An unheated greenhouse or a cool hallway works great—just aim for temperatures between 40°F and 50°F (5-10°C). If you’ve cut the bushes back significantly, they don’t even need a particularly bright spot to rest for the winter.
Some especially tough varieties to look for include:
- Goldmarianne
- Kleiner Bernstein
- Rotes Julchen
- Vreneli
- Ordensstern
No matter which variety you choose, the key to a happy plant is picking the right spot.
The Perfect Location
Whether you’re planting your mums in the ground or keeping them in containers on the patio, their “wish list” is pretty much the same:
- They love a bright spot but prefer to stay out of direct, scorching midday sun.
- Use loose, nutrient-rich soil with a bit of lime.
- Make sure your pots have great drainage to prevent “wet feet” (root rot).
- Feed them every two weeks between March and September.
- Deadhead those spent blooms! It encourages the plant to keep producing new flowers.
- Once the blooming season is totally over, cut the plant back to about 4 inches.
