Where Can You Grow Chrysanthemums?

Quick Answer: Chrysanthemums can be grown in all 50 states and in all zones. They will do the best in zones 4-9 but can grow in tropical or hot regions with special care.

Chrysanthemums are grown from cuttings which ship throughout the year. You can grow your own by getting cuttings here.

This is the chrysanthemum ‘Talisman’. A great cut flower with mysterious colors as it matures.

In zones 4, 5 and 6 you will want to choose early varieties so your mums don’t freeze before they bloom. For more specific growing information for your region and variety suggestions see this blog post: How To Grow Chrysanthemums in zones 4 and 5

This is the spider mum ‘Carousel’ which also a beautiful red sister named ‘Red Carousel’

In zones 7 and 8 you’ll have the easiest time growing mums. Plant cuttings in spring or late summer in a place that gets full sun and cut back faded branches once winter sets in. And that’s it! For more specific growing information to your zone see the blog post: How To Grow Chrysanthemums in zone 6 and 7

In hot and arid places you might plant your mums into pots that can be moved to shade for the hottest months of the year. You can plant your cuttings in fall, December or early spring. For more specific growing information and variety suggestions see the blog post: How To Grow Chrysanthemums in zones 8, 9,10 - Hot/Arid

For those in hot, humid tropical places you’ll want to make sure you are planting in a place with good drainage. Plant mums in fall, spring or even summer in places that have mild summers like Southern California or Hawaii. For more specific growing information see the blog post: How To Grow Chrysanthemums in zones 8, 9,10 - Tropical/Southeast:

Shop our whole selection of chrysanthemums here. Shown below are (from left to right: Snowscape, Football Mum Set of 6 and Powder River

How To Grow Chrysanthemums in Zones 8, 9, 10 - Humid/Tropical

This advice applies to places like Florida, Georgia, and Southern Texas but also Hawaii. If it’s hot and humid then this advice is for you.

This is a mix of the varieties: Quarterback, Torchsong and Irish Linen

In warmer zones that are tropical you can plant your cuttings into the ground in spring or plant in the fall to get a head start so as to get roots nice and deep into the ground before the heat of summer. In particularly humid places, you will need to give your mums a little space to reduce rot and insects - how far you space the plant will depend on the size of the varieties you pick to plant. Just don’t really squeeze them in or the humidity can cause mold to start growing, and bugs will go crazy in the overcrowded foliage. Another thing you’ll need to watch for is root rot. If your soil lacks drainage and keeps your roots warm and soggy that’s a perfect recipe to rot your roots and they will fail to thrive or die. Growing in pots and raised beds is probably the solution if you live in a place that struggles with bogs and/or is below sea level.

Grape Glow

If your plants tend to struggle with heat, plant your mums in a place that gets afternoon shade. If your summers are particularly hot you might plant your mums into pots that can be moved to shade during the highest heat of summer - temps consistently above 100F. Some of my favorite varieties for cut flowers are: Irish Linen, Torchsong and Grape Glow. For landscape I love ‘Minnpink’ ‘Red Daisymum’ and ‘Rosyglow’ but there are lots of beauties beyond these. Shop our entire selection here.

For all my hot/humid chrysanthemum growers, add your growing tips in the comments!