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Garden mums are a favorite among home landscapers, not only because of their colorful flowers, but because they bloom in the autumn, when many other flowers have long since passed their peak. The name "chrysanthemum" is derived from the Greek chrysos (gold) and anthos (flower). Flower color runs the gamut from white, to yellow and gold, pink, orange, bronze, deep red, maroon, violet and purple. The fall flowering mum is native to China and is a member of the sunflower family of plants. All chrysanthemums are short day plants, that is, they require long periods of uninterrupted darkness for the flower buds to develop. Chrysanthemums should be planted away from street lights or home windows where lights will shine on the plants and may delay flowering. |
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Chrysanthemums are hardy and easy to grow. They'll grow in a variety of climates and soils, as long as the flowerbed has good drainage. Mums will succumb to soilborne diseases if the ground remains moist for extended periods. Most varieties will survive winter, as long as the ground they are planted in is not wet. Mums will overwinter well in a cold frame, and are then handy for dividing the plants before setting out in the ground. Divide the clumps to allow up to four shoots per plant. These should be planted about 15 - 18 inches apart. When plants are about 4 - 6 inches tall, the tops should be pinched to encourage fuller growth. While the plant likes sun in the summer, they will grow in shade and can be transplanted from pots into shady areas in the fall when they begin to bloom. Mums only need watering in extremely dry weather. |
| Pyrethrum is an insecticide derived from chrysanthemum (C. coccineum or C. cinerariae). In the beginning, it was used against bookworms, but now this natural insecticide is used to control white fly, aphids, caterpillars, thrips and most insects on flowers, vegetables and fruit trees. Pyrethrins are fast-acting knockdown insecticides which work as a contact poison or a stomach poison, and are used in the form of a fumigant. The active ingredients in most pyrethrum formulas are pyrethrin and piperonyl butoxide. The piperonyl butoxide helps prevent the insect from detoxifying the slightly slower-acting pyrethrin and accelerates the rate of knockdown. Insects are paralyzed before dying. Pyrethrum may be used indoors since it is non-residual and safe for humans and most wildlife, except fish. Outdoors on crops, it is harmless to bees when used at recommended strength. Pyrethrin is decomposed by sunlight and its residual killing effect usually lasts only 2-3 days. The synthetic insecticides known as pyrethroids are chemically similar to pyrethrins but are more stable in the environment, and thus used more in large agricultural operations. | |
Links to other sites with information about mums:
| Crop
Plant Resources | | Outreach
and Educational Resources | | Molecular
Biology Program |
Please send comments and suggestions to: moconnel@nmsu.edu
Last Updated: June 3, 1998
