Leo in N E Illinois
The Professor
- Messages
- 11,337
- Reaction score
- 23,254
- USDA Zone
- 5b
Those that know me, know I tend to keep too many projects going at once. Chrysanthemums, or Mums for short, are a project that have held my interest to a degree, but I have never had the time to do them justice. I bring the topic up again, in the hopes that someone with more energy than me, will find them a worthy subject and really do them justice. As a subject for Bonsai, or for Kusamono, depending on the size you are shooting for, mums require a fair amount of input to get them to come out looking tree like or well shaped when they bloom in autumn. Not many plants flower in autumn, and mums are emblematic of fall blooming flowers.
I tried picking up a few cuttings in 2014, & 2015. I posted a thread on IBC http://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t17097-chrysanthemums-for-bonsai-or-kusamono
I lost all my mums to mis-handling, neglect, and forgetfulness by the summer of 2016. Was very busy with the blueberry farm. Then King's Mums, one of the very few who stocked "Gnome type" Chrysanthemums closed down. The founders decided to retire. The business was sold, and after a few years, the new owners have King's Mums up and operating. So I decided to order myself a new round of cuttings and see how I do this year. If you want to try your hand at Chrysanthemums, definitely purchase cuttings from King's Mums. The new owners have kept most of the "Gnome" and "Cascade" varieties of mums that the original King family had assembled. These woody stem cultivars of Mum are hard to find outside of Japan, you will not find them at Home Depot, or Menard's Garden Centers.
Again, I have been thwarted by lack of time, but I thought I'd share a few flower photos, as it is pretty dull and grey here.
First up is 'Yukari' definitely my favorite, or in my Top 3 of Gnome types. It is an old cultivar originating in Japan many decades ago. Nice woody stems, blooms begin usually October 18 to 28, which is right in time for my Zion, IL average first frost. But in a more normal year, the "in and out" dance. It's best traits are small leaf and small flower size. Nice strong upright growth. Yellow centrals, ray florets are a nice light pink. Pretty.
and after pruning for winter in a 4 x 4 x 5 inch pot, the width of photo is about 4 inches.
Next up is 'Hatsune'
This is another Gnome, yellow central flower, ray florets are yellow. Very similar growth habit to 'Yukari' starts blooming a few days later.
my phone camera is messing up, smeary.
and a shot of it in a @sorce Pot, thanks Sorce.
and a photo from the 2015 effort.
I tried picking up a few cuttings in 2014, & 2015. I posted a thread on IBC http://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t17097-chrysanthemums-for-bonsai-or-kusamono
I lost all my mums to mis-handling, neglect, and forgetfulness by the summer of 2016. Was very busy with the blueberry farm. Then King's Mums, one of the very few who stocked "Gnome type" Chrysanthemums closed down. The founders decided to retire. The business was sold, and after a few years, the new owners have King's Mums up and operating. So I decided to order myself a new round of cuttings and see how I do this year. If you want to try your hand at Chrysanthemums, definitely purchase cuttings from King's Mums. The new owners have kept most of the "Gnome" and "Cascade" varieties of mums that the original King family had assembled. These woody stem cultivars of Mum are hard to find outside of Japan, you will not find them at Home Depot, or Menard's Garden Centers.
Again, I have been thwarted by lack of time, but I thought I'd share a few flower photos, as it is pretty dull and grey here.
First up is 'Yukari' definitely my favorite, or in my Top 3 of Gnome types. It is an old cultivar originating in Japan many decades ago. Nice woody stems, blooms begin usually October 18 to 28, which is right in time for my Zion, IL average first frost. But in a more normal year, the "in and out" dance. It's best traits are small leaf and small flower size. Nice strong upright growth. Yellow centrals, ray florets are a nice light pink. Pretty.
and after pruning for winter in a 4 x 4 x 5 inch pot, the width of photo is about 4 inches.
Next up is 'Hatsune'
This is another Gnome, yellow central flower, ray florets are yellow. Very similar growth habit to 'Yukari' starts blooming a few days later.
my phone camera is messing up, smeary.
and a shot of it in a @sorce Pot, thanks Sorce.
and a photo from the 2015 effort.
Last edited: