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What is the season for mums

Author

Olivia Zamora

Published Apr 17, 2026

Chrysanthemums, better known as “mums” to their friends, are late-season bloomers that really pack a fall punch in the garden. The chrysanthemum bloom season ranges from late summer into early winter depending upon your zone.

When should you buy mums?

Mid-September is the earliest time you should consider buying mums. However, each year the longer and hotter summers are pushing that date later and later into September, even into the month of October. As a rule, we at Southern Living recommend “buying plants as they start to break bud.

Are mums a seasonal plant?

When are mums in season? Many mums bloom throughout the fall months, but some species will provide blooms from late spring through the fall. … There are perennial varieties, and if those are planted early enough, they can usually be counted on to last through the cold months and bloom for years to come.

What month do mums come out?

Early bloomers often begin flowering in late July, early fall bloomers show off blooms in September and late fall bloomers start their stunning display of colors in October. Each variety differs, but most mums will continue to bloom for four to eight weeks. There are many ways to extend the flowering of chrysanthemums.

Can you buy mums year round?

Many people buy mums in the fall thinking the plants are annuals. These people toss the mums in the trash once the blooms have faded. But if you buy hardy mums, you can get them to bloom year after year. … Late October is good time to plant.

Do mums come back every year in pots?

Potted mums are autumn classics, with late-season color that boosts curb appeal or brightens a Thanksgiving table. … Treat your potted mums with care, and they’ll come back whether you maintain them in the pot or plant them out in the garden.

How do you prepare mums for spring?

The best solution is to plant mums in the spring. Buy hardy plants from reputable nurseries and set them out in mid- to late-spring. Keep them watered and start pinching back the plants to encourage branching in late May. Continue to pinch back new growth and flower buds until early to mid July.

How long do potted mums last?

Garden mums may be grown in containers, or planted in beds with existing shrubs and flowers. Flowers generally last about two or three weeks, depending on the outdoor temperatures and how far along the blooming process was when the plants were purchased.

Do mums bloom in spring?

While the yellow, red, orange and rust colors of mums (Dendranthema x grandiflorum), also called chrysanthemums, are associated with fall, mums can bloom in spring. Garden mums grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9.

Can I plant mums in November?

When and Where to Plant Mums If you’re using a mum as a perennial, plant in early spring, or in the fall at least six weeks before the first killing frost.

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How do I know if my mum is perennial or annual?

Are Mums Perennials or Annuals? Chrysanthemums or mums are tender perennials that are often grown as annuals. If hardy enough, they can be grown as perennial, depending on the climate and growing conditions. There are hardy cultivars of mums available for most climates.

Do Chrysanthemums flower every year?

Early-flowering chrysanthemums can be planted in ornamental borders and will flower from late summer to autumn. … For a reliable perennial chrysanthemum, choose hardy garden varieties that can be left in the ground all year round.

Can I keep mums in pots over the winter?

Overwinter your mums in pots. If you’re not ready to give up your beautiful fall blooms, you can overwinter mums in pots as long as they’re hardy mums. Fall-blooming mums (​Chrysanthemum x morifolium​) grow in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 to 9, and they’re often grown in pots as annuals in other zones.

Do mums come back year after year?

Overwintering Mums – How To Winterize Mums Because people often think that mums (formally called Chrysanthemums) are at best a finicky perennial, many gardeners treat them as annuals, but this doesn’t have to be the case. With just a little winter care for mums, these fall beauties can come back year after year.

When should I put fall mums out?

The bottom line is that there’s not a “best” time to put out your potted mums, but you’ll get optimal plant performance in cooler weather. Mid- to late-September is ideal if you want to love your mums for as long as possible.

Should I cut back mums in spring?

It’s always best to cut mums back every spring shortly after they first begin to grow. Timing is everything. If you don’t cut mums back in early spring, then they are more likely to produce a premature and disappointing period of poor bloom in summer and a lackluster season of poor bloom in fall.

What do you do with mums in the summer?

Care for mums in the summer is easier with mulch. Adding 2 or 3 inches of organic mulch such as shredded bark on the soil surface around the plants helps conserve soil moisture. Keep the mulch back a bit from each plant’s center to help prevent fungal diseases.

What temperature is too hot for mums?

Mums are cold hardy to about 20 degrees Fahrenheit. They can survive hot temperatures from 90 to 100 F, but they’ll need plenty of water and a little shade.

Should mums be cut back in the summer?

Cut the buds off mums around July 4 to create more flowers in fall. … If you have hardy mums (those that survive the winter), you can encourage more blooms and fuller plants by cutting off the buds, or the top growth where buds would soon form, around July 4 each year.

Is it too late to plant mums in the ground?

Most gardeners plant mums too late in the fall for the plants to survive over winter. Some of the mums may come back the next year if they are mulched. The shallow-rooted mums that are planted late in fall while in full bud or flower just do not have enough time to establish before winter sets in.

Are potted mums annuals or perennials?

Though technically perennials, mums are often grown as annuals owing to shallow root systems inclined to heave right out of the ground during winter’s freeze-thaw cycles.

Why are mums blooming in July?

Causes of Premature Budding – Lack of Water and Fertilizer Mums initiate buds naturally when the day length starts to shorten in the late summer / early fall. Early season mums will initiate flowering during longer days, and late season varieties initiate flowering when day length is shorter.

Do I need to bring my mums inside?

You can leave your garden mums in the ground during winter, especially with a layer of mulch in the cooler zones. However, because potted plants are more susceptible to cold damage, bring your mums indoors for winter safekeeping. … Keep mums outdoors until the foliage and flowers die back after the first frost.

How do you keep mums alive?

Water Mums from Bottom: Protect your mums from rain, and water them carefully without splashing the foliage or blooms. This will help keep the blooms from spotting and browning. Keep Mums Cool: Warm temperatures also encourage blooming, while cool temperatures will help mums blooms last longer.

What kind of mums grow back every year?

Garden mums, also known as hardy mums, are perennial mums. Cut-flower chrysanthemums, like spider mums or football mums, are perennials in Zones 5 to 9, and these types are becoming easier to find for sale online.

Are chrysanthemums frost hardy?

If you wish to grow Chrysanthemums in your garden you need to know how to help them survive winter. These plants are not difficult to grow but they don’t do well in cold weather.

What do you do with chrysanthemums in the winter?

The recommended treatment is five minutes in water at 46°C (114°F). After this, dry the stools thoroughly, trim the roots to about 15cm (6″) in length and then box them in seed trays using an open compost. Store in an airy place (a cold greenhouse is fine) and keep the compost dry.

Is a chrysanthemum annual or perennial?

Garden mums (Chrysanthemum spp.) are herbaceous perennials in the daisy family and are stalwarts of the flowering autumn garden. When garden centers sell blooming potted mums in the fall, they are usually used as annuals and discarded when the blooms fade.