Simply mentioning their name can provoke a rather snooty look of disdain. Chrysanths are very popular, but often considered brash and 'common'...
I've always had a soft spot for chrysanthemums, and it's during autumn that they really reward you with the flower you've been anticipating all year. I can't think of another hardy perennial for pots or borders that looks so bright and colourful at this time of year, literally covering itself with bloom.
Simply mentioning their name can provoke a rather snooty look of disdain. Chrysanths are very popular, but often considered brash and 'common'. They remain one of the most popular cut flowers, coming a close second only to roses, according to a recent survey of florists. And as with any 'easy-to-grow' plant, it divides gardeners in the same way that gladioli, dahlias and many others do.
Horticultural snobs may give them a wide berth as they search out something with a far more complicated botanical name, but remember that plants are popular for a reason. Plants fall in and out of fashion (like conifers featured in my last blog), but you really shouldn't let this put you off growing them.
Chrysanthemums are cheap, cheerful, and wonderful plants. Just when you've given up on the garden, with summer bedding displays coming to an abrupt end, along come chrysanths to provide the colourful punctuation every garden needs.
I mostly use them in pots, pulling out tired bedding and popping a selection of chrysanths in their place. However, remember that chrysanths are hardy plants unlike the mainly tender summer bedding. That means they'll come up year after year, so don't discard chrysanths when flowering is over, but plant out in your borders instead.
Forget the plant snobs. They might miss out on the colour only chrysanths can provide in autumn, but I certainly won't!
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