14 Beautiful Types of Chrysanthemum For Fall Gardens

Thinking of adding some mums to your garden this season but aren't quite sure which type to grow? There are many different types of mums that you can grow, depending on your hardiness zone. In this article, gardening expert Liessa Bowen looks at the most popular mums most gardeners choose to plant, with names and pictures of each.

A close-up shot of pink colored chrysanthemum varieties

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Chrysanthemums, also known as mums, are almost synonymous with autumn. Mums are readily available as potted plants in the fall and many people buy them to use as short-term decorations. They are frequently found for sale as densely-blooming potted plants, which can easily be incorporated into any sunny spot around the house or in the yard or garden.

Mums can add color and interest to the fall home and garden landscape. Potted mums are often grown as annuals and discarded after blooming. Most people see these common potted varieties and don’t realize that mums can be grown in the garden as perennials.

Mums are a great way to bring color to your fall gardens. These 14 Chrysanthemum varieties are our must-have picks.

Chrysanthemum Basics

A man transplants beautiful yellow chrysanthemums into the soil outdoors on a sunny day, close-up. The chrysanthemum bush blooms with bright yellow double flowers and has trifoliate lobed leaves. The man is dressed in blue jeans, a burgundy T-shirt, and yellow gloves. The gardener is holding a garden shovel with soil. An empty plastic pot with drainage holes lies near the transplanted bush.
The flowers grow well in moist, well-drained soil in full sun.

There are so many different Chrysanthemum varieties, it would be difficult to list them all. Mums tend to be classified into different flower types, based upon the flower petal arrangement.

Chrysanthemum Flower Types

  • Single – Daisy-like single blooms
  • Decorative – Blooms flat on the back, slightly convex on the top, dense petals
  • Incurve – Large compact, globe-shaped blooms
  • Reflex – Large blooms with irregularly growing petals
  • Pompom – Small, dense blooms, grow in masses
  • Anemone – Single blooms with large centers
  • Spoon – Daisy-like blooms with curved, spoonlike petal tips
  • Quill – Thin tube-like petals
  • Spider – Long, gracefully drooping petals with coiled ends

In general, Chrysanthemums all have similar growth requirements. They grow best in rich,  well-drained soil. Roots like to be kept moist, but not wet or soggy. They do best in full sun to part shade, and require plenty of sun to maintain their bushy growth and abundant blooms.

Mums benefit from a few fertilizer applications each growing season. This boosts their ability to grow well and bloom well. Many varieties, though not necessarily all, also benefit from pinching back in spring to early summer to keep plants bushy and compact.

After blooming in the fall or winter, you can cut back plants to about 6 inches. Mulch them well to protect the roots for overwintering. Most Chrysanthemums are hardy within USDA Climate Zones 5-9.

Our Favorite Chrysanthemum Varieties

Close-up of blooming bright pink chrysanthemums against a backdrop of vibrant blooming chrysanthemums in a sunny garden. They have small double blooms, consisting of small, elongated petals densely arranged in many rows in a circle. Many unopened buds of pink mums and blooming yellow mums are in a slightly blurred background.
There are many recognized varieties of the flower with many color combinations and petal shapes.

There really are an amazing number of recognized Chrysanthemum varieties and hybrids. In general, they tend to grow between 1 and 3 feet tall, though some may be taller or shorter. Leaves also tend to have a distinctive lobed shape that is typical of mums.

But the real variation is in the flowers. Flowers can be small or quite large. They can have a simple, single layer of petals, or multiple dense layers of petals. Petals can be flat, curved, hollow, or spoon-shaped, long or short, thin or thick.

Flowers may be rounded like a globe, or with gracefully drooping spider-like petals. And there are a great number of color variations, including many shades of white, yellow, orange, red, pink, purple, and green.

Let’s have a look at some of the many varieties of Chrysanthemums that you can grow in your home garden.

‘Allouise Pink’

Close-up of Chrysanthemum 'Allouise Pink' blooming surrounded by dark green lobed leaves. The flower is large, double, spherical, consists of pale pink, gracefully curved upward petals. The bloom is supported by a special white metal ring.
This plant produces tall and large pale pink globular flowers with gracefully upturned petals.
plant-type plant type Herbaceous perennial, incurve
bloom-colors bloom colors Pale pink
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 3-4′
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 6-9

Allouise Pink is a beautiful Chrysanthemum. The plants grow tall and bushy with large flowers. The blooms are very attractive salmon pink to pale pink. These flowers are described as “incurve” blooms and have a somewhat globe-like form with a multitude of gracefully upward-curving petals.

Allouise Pink is one of the larger Chrysanthemum varieties. This striking plant would look nice planted towards the back of the perennial garden, or as a central showpiece. Single blooms on strong stems make an excellent cut flower. This mum blooms readily throughout the autumn months.

‘Anastasia Green’

Close-up of a light green Chrysanthemum 'Anastasia Green' flower against a blurred dark green background. The bloom has petals, which are thin hollow tubes, the ends of which are bent upwards. It is illuminated by bright sunlight.
This variety blooms with magnificent light green large flowers with a pleasant aroma.
plant-type plant type Herbaceous perennial, quilled
bloom-colors bloom colors Pale green
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 2-3′
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 5-9

Anastasia Green has unusual pale green flowers. The flowers are called “quilled” because the petals are thin, hollow tubes, which gives this plant a very unique look. The blooms are large and make excellent cut flowers that nicely complement other bright colors.

The plants themselves are medium-sized and vigorously growing. Plant them in the perennial garden among some other multi-colored fall-blooming plants. They bloom through the autumn months until frost.

‘Bolero’

Close-up of densely growing gorgeous orange Chrysanthemum 'Bolero' in a sunny garden. The flowers have thin long apricot-yellow petals arranged in two rows surrounding a yellow center. Some dark orange buds are not open.
‘Bolero’ produces showy apricot yellow flowers that grow densely.
plant-type plant type Herbaceous perennial, single
bloom-colors bloom colors Yellow with yellow center
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 1.5-2′
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 5-9

This is a very yellow Chrysanthemum. They have yellow centers and almost apricot-yellow flower petals. Flowers are beautiful, showy, profuse, and make good cut flowers.

Densely growing plants are prolific both in growth and with an abundance of flowers. Bolero blooms from late summer through fall. It’s a slightly smaller variety and would look wonderful along a border or planted in a cluster among other perennials.

‘Clara Curtis’

Close-up of a small flowering Chrysanthemum 'Clara Curtis' bush against a blurred green garden. The blooms have a yellow center and pink daisy-like petals.
This compact variety produces daisy-like pink flowers.
plant-type plant type Herbaceous perennial, single
bloom-colors bloom colors Pink with yellow center
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 1.5-2′
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 5-9

Clara Curtis is a beautiful Chrysanthemum. The flowers are considered “single” blooms because they are the simple daisy-like petal arrangement with a single flower on each stem. Flowers have a yellow center with pink petals and make very attractive cut flowers.

Clara Curtis is a fairly compact plant. It would make a wonderful addition to a perennial garden or along a border. It would also look nice growing in a large container. This plant blooms from late summer through mid fall with a dense covering of showy flowers.

‘Fireglow Bronze’

Close-up of blooming bright orange flowers of Chrysanthemum 'Fireglow Bronze'. Double blooms consist of many thin orange petals, which fade to dark orange closer to the center.
The gorgeous double orange flowers make a great addition to your garden.
plant-type plant type Herbaceous perennial, decorative
bloom-colors bloom colors Golden yellow-orange
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 1-2′
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 5-9

Bright and beautiful, the showy flowers of this Chrysanthemum variety make a stunning fall display. Fireglow Bronze is a prolific bloomer. Its masses of bright orange flowers complement many other fall colors.

This mum blooms from early fall through frost. Plants are compact and bushy, making an excellent addition to a perennial garden, edge planting, or container-grown arrangement.

‘Grandchild’

Top view, close-up of Chrysanthemum 'Grandchild' blooming flowers against a green blurred background. The blooms are spectacular, in the form of a pompom, and have an abundance of beautifully rounded petals that have a rich pink hue towards the center.
This has delightful pom-pom flowers with an abundance of pink, beautifully rounded petals.
plant-type plant type Herbaceous perennial, pompom
bloom-colors bloom colors Pink to lavender
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 1.5-2′
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 5-9

Grandchild has “pompom” flowers, with an abundance of petals that are nicely rounded. Flowers are showy and pink, tending towards a lavender hue.

Grandchild is a hardy, low-maintenance plant. It blooms from early to mid-fall with an intense display of blooms. The plants are dense and compact, making a very attractive addition to any garden arrangement.

‘Hillside Sheffield Pink’

Close-up of many blooming Chrysanthemum 'Hillside Sheffield Pink' flowers in an autumn garden. The flowers are salmon pink, daisy-shaped, with a bright yellow center and a yellowish tint on the petals near the center.
One of the best pink flower varieties with lovely single salmon pink flowers with a yellow centre.
plant-type plant type Herbaceous perennial, single
bloom-colors bloom colors Apricot pink with yellow center
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 2-4′
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 5-9

Hillside Sheffield Pink is an excellent plant for a sunny spot in the perennial garden. Plants are low maintenance and hardy. They don’t require any special pruning and are reliable bloomers year after year.

The single flowers atop long stems make nice cut flowers and also attract pollinators. These plants bloom from late summer until frost. Flowers are a salmon-pink color and may vary slightly in hue, from slightly more orange to slightly more pink.

‘Ja Dank’

Close-up of a white Chrysanthemum 'Ja Dank' flower surrounded by dark green leaves. The bloom is large, spherical, consists of many rounded petals that gently curve upwards.
This variety produces gorgeous large white flowers with very rounded petals.
plant-type plant type Herbaceous perennial, intermediate incurve
bloom-colors bloom colors White
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 3-4′
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 7-9

The Ja Dank Chrysanthemum has large, showy, white flowers. The “intermediate incurve” blooms are very rounded with petals that curve gently upwards. These make excellent cut flowers.

Ja Dank is a standout in the fall garden and would complement other plants nicely. This is a taller variety of mum, so would look good in the background or as a centerpiece. It blooms from late summer through early fall.

‘Matchsticks’

Close-up of four blooming Chrysanthemum 'Matchsticks' flowers against a purple blurred background. The blooms are large, with hollow, pale yellow petals that end in spoon-shaped dark reddish-orange tips. The centers of the blooms have a bright golden color.
The cheerful yellow-red flowers with hollow petals that have spoon-shaped tips.
plant-type plant type Herbaceous perennial, spoon
bloom-colors bloom colors Yellow with orange-red tipped petals
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 1.5-2′
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 5-9

The Chrysanthemum Matchsticks blooms throughout the autumn months. Plants are nicely bushy and compact. They would be an excellent fall-blooming space-filler in the perennial garden.

Cheery multicolor flowers are uniquely tinted. Colors change from yellow at the center to dark reddish-orange at the petal tips in a very attractive bloom. The “spoon” variety of flowers have hollow petals that end with spoon-shaped tips, which gives them a very unusual appearance.

‘Moonbeam’

Close-up of about 10 large white pompon-shaped flowers of Chrysanthemum x morifolium 'Moonbeam' against a blurred background of green foliage. The flowers consist of densily spaced, round, slightly curved petals.
This variety has large, white, pom-pom-shaped flowers that are densely covered with rounded, slightly curled petals.
plant-type plant type Herbaceous perennial, pompom
bloom-colors bloom colors White to pale yellow
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 2-3.5′
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 5-9

Moonbeam has large, striking, white to pale yellow flowers that actually do resemble a full moon. The flowers are considered a “pompom” variety because they cover the plant with a mass of small blooms that are dense and rounded. The flowers of this mum are relatively large and make very attractive cut flowers.

These mums can grow a bit taller than some of the others. It would be a stunning accent plant, whose white flowers would compliment any other nearby plants. Plant Moonbeam mums in the perennial garden wherever you want a gentle moonbeam glow.

‘Radiant Igloo’

Top view, close-up of closely spaced bright yellow flowers of Chrysanthemum 'Radiant Igloo'. The blooms are double, consisting of rounded elongated petals arranged in several rows around a yellow center of densely packed thin petals.
This flower produces double, bright yellow flowers that make a great addition to your fall garden.
plant-type plant type Herbaceous perennial, single
bloom-colors bloom colors Yellow with yellow center
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 1.5-2′
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 5-9

The flowers of Radiant Igloo are bright yellow and cheery. You can count on these Chrysanthemums to grace your garden with decorative blooms year after year. In peak bloom, these compact plants are densely covered with intensely yellow flowers.

Radiant Igloo makes a striking display in the fall garden. This mum blooms from late summer through frost. Plants are low-maintenance and easy to grow, making this a good choice for a truly radiant fall-blooming perennial.

‘Regal Mist Purple’

Close-up of large, purple blooms of Chrysanthemum 'Regal Mist Purple' blooming in an autumn garden against a blurred background. Spherical double flowers, consist of densely placed rounded petals, slightly curved ends up.
This variety produces globe-like purple flowers that are a definite favorite in your perennial garden.
plant-type plant type Herbaceous perennial, incurve
bloom-colors bloom colors Purple to fuschia
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 3-4′
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 5-9

Regal Mist Purple lives up to its name. Its beautiful purple blooms are dense and globe-like. They look great in the garden landscape and also make good cut flowers.

Regal Mist Purple blooms from late summer through mid-fall. These are relatively tall mums. With their annual abundance of brightly colored flowers, they make a stunning addition to the perennial garden.

‘Symphony’

Close-up of three vibrant orange-yellow Chrysanthemum 'Symphony' against dark green leaves in a sunny garden. Large, double blooms, have long and graceful petals twisted into thin tubes with curls at the end of each. The centers stamens are yellow.
The ‘Symphony’ produces showy orange-yellow flowers with tubular long graceful petals.
plant-type plant type Herbaceous perennial, spider
bloom-colors bloom colors Reddish-orange to yellow
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 2-3.5′
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 4-10

A Symphony Chrysanthemum in full bloom somewhat resembles a miniature fireworks display during the grand finale. Flowers are very showy. The colorful blooms can be multicolored, ranging from reddish-orange to yellow. Petals are long and elegant with a curl at the end of each.

Symphony is a mid-size Chrysanthemum that would look great in any garden display. It blooms from mid-summer through fall and compliments the fall foliage. The large blooms make choice cut flowers.

‘Yellow Quill Mammoth Mum’

Close-up of chaotically blooming yellow Chrysanthemum Mammoth™ ‘Yellow Quill’ against a background of dark green lobed foliage. Blooms have long narrow hollow petals with a spoon at the end. The petals are pale yellow with a darker yellow center.
‘Yellow Quill Mammoth Mum’ blooms with unique yellow flowers with narrow petals like hollow tubes with spoon-shaped ends.
plant-type plant type Herbaceous perennial, quill
bloom-colors bloom colors Pale yellow with yellow center
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 2.5-3′
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 4-9

The Yellow Quill Mammoth Mum has uniquely attractive blooms that will catch your eye from late summer through fall. Long, narrow petals look like hollow tubes with little spoons on the end. Flower petals are pale yellow with a darker yellow center.

These plants can grow rather dense, forming a rounded mound. In peak bloom, it can appear as a large yellow orb. Yellow Quill Mammoth attracts butterflies. This variety does better in colder climates than some other Mum varieties.

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