Yes, chrysanthemums grow back each year but only if you plant the right type. Garden hardy mums return season after season. Florist mums from the grocery store almost never survive their first winter outside. The type you buy sets whether you get a perennial flower or a pricey annual.
I learned this the hard way when I grabbed six florist mums from the store one October. I planted them along my front walk and they looked great for three weeks. Then winter hit and every single one died. The next spring I tried perennial chrysanthemums from a local garden center instead. I planted them in April and those same plants came back strong for four straight years before I moved away from that house.
The key difference comes down to roots. Hardy garden mums grow thick stems under the soil called stolons. These stolons store energy and keep the plant alive through frost. Florist mums were bred for big showy blooms and compact shapes. Growers never picked them for cold survival. They lack the root systems needed to make it through a freeze.
Your growing zone tells you what to expect from hardy mums winter survival. Garden types live through cold in USDA zones 3a through 9b, which covers most of North America. They can handle drops to -40°F (-40°C) with good care. Florist types only make it outdoors in zones 7 through 9 where winters stay mild. If you get a hard freeze, those pretty store mums are a one-season deal.
After First Hard Frost
- Leave stems standing: Do not cut back dead stems until spring since they trap air and snow that protect the plant's crown from cold damage.
- Apply mulch: Spread 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimeters) of straw or shredded leaves over the base to guard roots from freeze and thaw cycles.
- Stop watering: The plant goes dormant and wet soil in winter causes root rot faster than cold weather does on its own.
Early Spring Care
- Pull back mulch: Remove the layer once you spot green shoots poking through in late March or April based on your zone.
- Cut old stems: Trim last year's dead growth down to about 2 inches (5 centimeters) above the soil line to clear space for new stems.
- Start feeding: Give the plant a balanced fertilizer once new leaves reach about 3 inches (7.5 centimeters) tall to fuel fresh growth.
Chrysanthemum overwintering works best when you plant in spring. Set your mums in the ground between April and mid-June so they get a full season to grow deep roots before cold weather arrives. Fall-planted mums spend all their energy on blooms instead. That leaves nothing in reserve for winter, which is why so many of them die when the first frost hits your garden.
I now tell everyone to buy mums labeled "garden hardy" from a real garden center. You should spend $5 to $8 per plant in spring and you will get years of fall color from each one. In my experience, spring-planted mums grow bigger and push out more blooms than fall-planted ones by their second year. The small wait pays off with stronger plants that keep coming back to your garden.
You can also divide your hardy mums every two to three years in spring to get free plants. Dig up the clump, pull it apart into sections with roots, and replant each piece. This keeps your mums healthy and gives you new plants to fill empty spots along your beds. One $6 plant can turn into five or six within a few years if you divide it on schedule. That is a deal you won't find at any garden center.
Read the full article: Chrysanthemum Flower Types and Care
