Late Blooming Heirloom Chrysanthemums
As the vibrant colors of autumn begin to fade, late-blooming heirloom chrysanthemums emerge as a remarkable addition to the late-season garden. These resilient flowers typically start to bloom from the end of October through mid-November, providing a stunning display of color just in time for Thanksgiving celebrations. For flower farmers operating in cooler climates, such as Zone 6a where we farm, these chrysanthemums offer an excellent opportunity to extend the harvest season and cater to customers seeking fresh flowers during this transitional period. However, managing these blooms requires special attention, as they need protection from the dropping temperatures associated with northern states. By utilizing unheated high tunnels, flower farmers can safeguard these cherished blooms while delivering spectacular arrangements that brighten the late fall landscape.
On our farm, we do not disbud our mums. While it is true that many late-season mums would benefit from disbudding—allowing the plant to focus its energy on producing one large bloom—we choose not to practice this technique. Our decision stems from our commitment to utilizing all of our mums for market bouquets, where a variety of blooms, both large and small, contribute to the overall visual appeal and diversity of our arrangements. This approach allows us to create unique and vibrant bouquets that highlight the natural beauty of our flowers throughout the season.
All of the following information about these amazing mums is based on our experience growing them in Zone 6a.
Lava heirloom mum is a stunning variety of spider flower that brings striking color and vibrancy to any garden or floral arrangement. With its large blooms measuring 5 to 8 inches across, this plant produces an abundance of stems, creating a breathtaking display of layered petals.
This particular variety is ideal for disbudding, which can enhance its overall bloom quality and encourage more robust growth. Due to its tall stature, it may require support to maintain an upright position during its growth cycle, ensuring that its captivating blossoms are showcased to their fullest potential. The Lava heirloom mum is an excellent choice for gardeners as well as flower farmers who are seeking dramatic color and a unique texture in their floral displays.
Mocha heirloom mum, with its stunning spider-style flowers, is a must-have for any garden or floral arrangement. This unique variety serves as a standout piece, making it a favorite among flower farmers looking to extend their season and provide customers with something special.
The blooms can reach impressive sizes and benefit from disbudding, allowing for an even more dramatic display. Each plant produces multiple long stems that will require support as they grow, ensuring they remain upright and visually striking.
Ideal for late fall and Thanksgiving arrangements, Mocha heirloom mum brings color and texture to seasonal displays, making it a valuable addition to both home gardens and professional flower farms.
Champagne Beauty is a standout late-blooming mum that captivates with its large, full blooms. This variety has quickly become a favorite among our customers, who appreciate its stunning aesthetic in any arrangement or market bouquet. Each plant produces an abundance of strong, sturdy stems topped with numerous blooms, creating a vibrant display.
As a tall variety, Champagne Beauty requires support as it grows, ensuring it maintains its impressive stature. We highly recommend this mum to any flower farmer looking to provide customers with a beautiful flower in November, making it an ideal choice for Thanksgiving arrangements. Its appeal and resilience make it a valuable addition to any fall flower lineup.
Piranga heirloom mum exhibits a deep, rich color that makes it an ideal choice for late fall arrangements or for adding vibrant color to your home garden. Each plant produces numerous long stems, each adorned with a lovely spray of red blooms at the top. This mum variety is well-suited for flower farmers and home gardeners alike, providing both beauty and resilience throughout the fall season. Its striking appearance and robust nature make it a valuable addition to any floral collection or garden landscape.
Mt. Shasta mum is one of the first varieties of mums we ever grew on our farm, and it continues to hold a special place in our lineup. Its stunning creamy white color gives it an elegant presence, making it an ideal choice for fall weddings or events. This variety is particularly beneficial for flower farmers seeking blooms later in the fall season, as it is among the latest white-flowering mums we offer.
While the Mt. Shasta mum adds beauty to any floral design, it does require some attention to temperature. Protection from the colder night temperatures that are common in the fall is essential to ensure the blooms are not damaged. Each plant produces long stems, which often necessitate support as they develop to maintain their upright form. This combination of delicate beauty and practical care makes the Mt. Shasta mum a noteworthy addition to any flower farm.
Satin Ribbon mum is truly unique among the chrysanthemums we grow on our farm. Its delicate hue offers an elegant contrast to the vibrant shades typical of the fall season, making it an appealing choice for floral customers seeking something softer and more subtle.
Ideal for any flower farm looking to diversify its offerings, each Satin Ribbon mum plant produces long, sturdy stems that require support during their growth to maintain an upright posture. To enhance blooming quality, disbudding is recommended, allowing for larger and more impressive flowers.
As this variety tends to bloom later in the season, it is important to safeguard the blooms from the cooler autumn nights. With proper care and protection, Satin Ribbon mum can thrive and enhance any flower farm or home garden, adding a special touch to floral arrangements and garden landscapes alike.
Savanna Charlton mum features lovely large soft pink blooms that are sure to impress. Its full blooms serve as the foundation for any floral arrangement or market bouquet, making this variety a great choice for flower farmers seeking to extend their season and provide customers with fresh flowers through Thanksgiving. Each plant grows tall, producing multiple stems that yield an abundance of blooms. This not only enhances the visual appeal of the garden but also maximizes the potential for harvest, ensuring vibrancy and freshness in every bouquet.
George Couchman mum is a striking, two-toned variety that adds a vibrant touch to any fall garden. Its unique coloration makes it a standout choice for arrangements and market bouquets. This mum is not only visually appealing but also an excellent cut flower, known for its long vase life.
To ensure optimal growth and flowering, it is essential to provide adequate support for this plant. Due to its large blooms, George Couchman can become top-heavy and may topple over easily without reinforcement. Consider using stakes or a supportive cage to keep the stems upright, allowing them to thrive and showcase their beauty throughout the fall season.
Daybreak is one of the latest mums to bloom on our farm, making it an excellent choice for Thanksgiving arrangements for our floral customers. This mum grows quite tall and produces an abundance of stems and blooms, ensuring a vibrant display. Its lovely orange color adds a warm touch, making it perfect for any fall garden or arrangement. Daybreak stands out as one of our favorite late-blooming mums, offering both beauty and versatility for your seasonal décor.
Judith Baker is a show-stopping mum that leaves a lasting impression. This large spider flower, measuring between 6 to 8 inches, showcases perfect shades for the fall season. Its striking appearance makes it an ideal choice for flower farmers looking to provide their floral customers with a unique offering for late fall or the Thanksgiving season.
Thanks to its large blooms and tall growth habit, Judith Baker requires support as it matures. To enhance its visual appeal, disbudding is recommended, allowing for the development of one singular, magnificent flower. If disbudding is not employed, each stem will produce a delightful spray of copper-colored spider mums, ensuring a captivating display.
Oriental Knight is a noteworthy late-blooming chrysanthemum variety that brings a striking visual appeal to any flower garden or arrangement. Its deep purple, spoon-style flowers are a standout feature, adding vibrant color and texture to market bouquets.
With a rich history, Oriental Knight has been cherished by gardeners for its resilience and beauty for many years. As a late-blooming mum, it is an excellent choice for flower farms looking to extend their growing season and provide floral customers with stunning flowers well into the fall.
This variety produces numerous stems and blooms per plant, making it a valuable addition to any mum collection. Its robust performance ensures that growers can enjoy an abundant harvest, while customers appreciate the lasting beauty of these impressive blooms. Ideal for both cultivation and presentation, Oriental Knight will certainly enhance any floral offering.
Crimson Tide mum is a striking two-toned late-blooming variety that enhances any garden or floral arrangement. With its large and full blooms, this plant is sure to make a lasting impression. Known for its tall growth habit, it is advisable to provide support to ensure the stems remain upright as the plant matures.
Each Crimson Tide mum produces an abundance of stems, contributing to a lush and full appearance. Being a late bloomer, it may require protection from colder nighttime temperatures to safeguard its delicate blooms. This variety is an excellent addition to any mum collection, appealing to flower farmers and home gardeners alike.
Shock is an anemone-style purple mum that serves as an excellent choice for maintaining vibrant color in both home gardens and for flower farmers looking to extend their harvest season. As a late-blooming mum, it enhances fall market bouquets and Thanksgiving arrangements beautifully. This plant can grow quite tall, producing multiple stems adorned with a delightful spray of purple anemone blooms atop each one. The stunning color and form of Shock make it a standout addition to any autumn display, bringing a fresh burst of purple to your floral compositions.
