It is not that long ago that I held the opinion that chrysanthemums were old fashioned. That was until I came across three plants on a garden centre bench and thought, let’s give these a try.
My memories of chrysanthemums were bunches of brightly coloured flowers from the florist or those known as ‘pot mums’ in small pots to decorate the Christmas table.
Of course, there were tall exhibition or show chrysanthemums that bedecked flower show benches seeking adulation and awards. These were masterpieces of horticulture that took months of dedication to get them to a heightened stage, as close as possible to perfection and wonderful they are too. Their colour, shape and unique fragrance linger long in my mind.
Chrysanthemums are members of the daisy family Asteraceae and the flowers clearly depict that. They are native to China, Japan, Korea and northeastern Europe. They featured in Chinese medicine as cures for fevers, sore throats, inflammatory diseases and were the basis for a tea that lowered high blood pressure.
Plant breeders are acutely aware that a market exists for beautiful new plant introductions to brighten our gardens. This has given rise to new cultivars of chrysanthemums – many of these are of good quality, hardy garden types which are capable of tolerating our Irish winter weather, returning every year as true perennials do. They form good grey-green foliage in the summer border waiting for their time to shine in the autumn/winter garden.
Chrysanthemum ’Emperor of China’ for us was a chance find on a garden centre bench – a plant that I had known from garden magazines. It is a really beautiful thing with its familiar chrysanthemum foliage in light grey green.
In October, it produces pink flowers with quilled petals and raspberry red centres. As the frost arrive, the foliage turns a ruby-red which is a perfect compliment to the flowers. It grows to 75cm and if planted with other plants, it doesn’t need staking. C. ‘Clara Curtis’ grows to 70cm and flowers from August to November.
It brings a warm light pink colour to the garden, giving a real cottage garden feel. If it is planted alongside grey leaved lavender, it completes a perfect picture. Chrysanthemum ‘Innocence’ is soft white with a slight blush of pink, the central eye is sulphur yellow. It grows to 80cm in height from a woody base and supports itself well. C ‘Mei Kyo’ is semi-double which means it has a fuller flower, so perhaps has more impact. It has a slightly richer pink colour too with a yellow eye. It grows to 60cm and is bushy and self supporting.
Chrysanthemum ‘Mrs Jessie Cooper’ is deep pink in flower with a yellow eye growing to 90cm. It is a stocky plant almost as wide as it is high so space is needed, but is self-supporting. C. ‘Doctor Tom Parr’ has double raspberry-red flowers on a plant growing to 70cm. Its rich red colour blends well with the amazing range of autumn colours of shrubs and trees at this time of year.
Dixter Orange
The colour orange is a feature of autumn foliage trees and shrubs and Chrysanthemum ‘Dixter Orange’ fits in here quite well. In fact, it is so long flowering that it embraces both summer and autumn. It starts its flowering at the end of July and keeps charming us right the way into November, a stalwart performer. You would expect that however as it is an introduction from Christopher Lloyd of Great Dixter.
Finally, I have to mention C. ‘E.H. Wilson, a plant we have grown now for several years. It is very untypical of the species.
The creamy white flowers are quite small, less then 25cm wide, but produced in profusion and they are lightly scented. It makes a wonderful cut flower with its light airy feel. It does need supporting in the garden however but worth the effort.
As with all perennial planting, it is essential to create a rich well-prepared planting area for Chrysanthemums as these plants will continue to charm you for many years into the future.
Some are self-supporting however, others will benefit from minimal intervention. From my experience, when grown in the midst of other perennials, they benefit from the support they get there and blend well.
Q&A: Will our fern tree last over winter?
Dicksonia is an expensive purchase. \iStock
We bought an expensive tree fern this year for our courtyard garden and are worried about winter frost. What do you advise, fleece or plastic for protection? – Angela, Clonmel
Dicksonia antarctica is a wonderful plant and an expensive purchase. It is frost tender and happiest in a woodland garden. That said, a courtyard garden can provide a good degree of protection too. I advise against using plastic for protection as it can trap moisture, opt instead for horticultural fleece as it will allow a free flow of air through to the plant. Before wrapping make sure the trunk is well watered. Then use some straw and loosely place it in the crown to protect new crosiers. Tie up the large fronds and again wrap in fleece. Depending on size, it might be wise to insert some large canes to secure the fleece.
To-do list
Bulbs: There is great value in garden centres at the moment as stocks are getting low. Look for daffodil, tulip and iris varieties and plant immediately.
Pots and planters: Bulbs in pots and planters work well. However, plant wallflower, pansy or myosotis to accompany them as it gives more interest.
Trees and shrubs: Now is a good time to plant or transplant trees and shrubs. The soil in still warm and growth is slowing. It gives plants time to establish themselves.
Greenhouse: It is time to clear the greenhouse of summer crops and make space for tender plants to get winter shelter. Use fleece to cover plants if winter temperatures drop.
Wildlife: Disinfect bird feeders
and fill them up with feed.
Do you have a gardening question? Email icl@farmersjournal.ie or post to Irish Country Living, Irish Farm Centre, Bluebell, Dublin 12.
It is not that long ago that I held the opinion that chrysanthemums were old fashioned. That was until I came across three plants on a garden centre bench and thought, let’s give these a try.
My memories of chrysanthemums were bunches of brightly coloured flowers from the florist or those known as ‘pot mums’ in small pots to decorate the Christmas table.
Of course, there were tall exhibition or show chrysanthemums that bedecked flower show benches seeking adulation and awards. These were masterpieces of horticulture that took months of dedication to get them to a heightened stage, as close as possible to perfection and wonderful they are too. Their colour, shape and unique fragrance linger long in my mind.
Chrysanthemums are members of the daisy family Asteraceae and the flowers clearly depict that. They are native to China, Japan, Korea and northeastern Europe. They featured in Chinese medicine as cures for fevers, sore throats, inflammatory diseases and were the basis for a tea that lowered high blood pressure.
Plant breeders are acutely aware that a market exists for beautiful new plant introductions to brighten our gardens. This has given rise to new cultivars of chrysanthemums – many of these are of good quality, hardy garden types which are capable of tolerating our Irish winter weather, returning every year as true perennials do. They form good grey-green foliage in the summer border waiting for their time to shine in the autumn/winter garden.
Chrysanthemum ’Emperor of China’ for us was a chance find on a garden centre bench – a plant that I had known from garden magazines. It is a really beautiful thing with its familiar chrysanthemum foliage in light grey green.
In October, it produces pink flowers with quilled petals and raspberry red centres. As the frost arrive, the foliage turns a ruby-red which is a perfect compliment to the flowers. It grows to 75cm and if planted with other plants, it doesn’t need staking. C. ‘Clara Curtis’ grows to 70cm and flowers from August to November.
It brings a warm light pink colour to the garden, giving a real cottage garden feel. If it is planted alongside grey leaved lavender, it completes a perfect picture. Chrysanthemum ‘Innocence’ is soft white with a slight blush of pink, the central eye is sulphur yellow. It grows to 80cm in height from a woody base and supports itself well. C ‘Mei Kyo’ is semi-double which means it has a fuller flower, so perhaps has more impact. It has a slightly richer pink colour too with a yellow eye. It grows to 60cm and is bushy and self supporting.
Chrysanthemum ‘Mrs Jessie Cooper’ is deep pink in flower with a yellow eye growing to 90cm. It is a stocky plant almost as wide as it is high so space is needed, but is self-supporting. C. ‘Doctor Tom Parr’ has double raspberry-red flowers on a plant growing to 70cm. Its rich red colour blends well with the amazing range of autumn colours of shrubs and trees at this time of year.
Dixter Orange
The colour orange is a feature of autumn foliage trees and shrubs and Chrysanthemum ‘Dixter Orange’ fits in here quite well. In fact, it is so long flowering that it embraces both summer and autumn. It starts its flowering at the end of July and keeps charming us right the way into November, a stalwart performer. You would expect that however as it is an introduction from Christopher Lloyd of Great Dixter.
Finally, I have to mention C. ‘E.H. Wilson, a plant we have grown now for several years. It is very untypical of the species.
The creamy white flowers are quite small, less then 25cm wide, but produced in profusion and they are lightly scented. It makes a wonderful cut flower with its light airy feel. It does need supporting in the garden however but worth the effort.
As with all perennial planting, it is essential to create a rich well-prepared planting area for Chrysanthemums as these plants will continue to charm you for many years into the future.
Some are self-supporting however, others will benefit from minimal intervention. From my experience, when grown in the midst of other perennials, they benefit from the support they get there and blend well.
Q&A: Will our fern tree last over winter?
Dicksonia is an expensive purchase. \iStock
We bought an expensive tree fern this year for our courtyard garden and are worried about winter frost. What do you advise, fleece or plastic for protection? – Angela, Clonmel
Dicksonia antarctica is a wonderful plant and an expensive purchase. It is frost tender and happiest in a woodland garden. That said, a courtyard garden can provide a good degree of protection too. I advise against using plastic for protection as it can trap moisture, opt instead for horticultural fleece as it will allow a free flow of air through to the plant. Before wrapping make sure the trunk is well watered. Then use some straw and loosely place it in the crown to protect new crosiers. Tie up the large fronds and again wrap in fleece. Depending on size, it might be wise to insert some large canes to secure the fleece.
To-do list
Bulbs: There is great value in garden centres at the moment as stocks are getting low. Look for daffodil, tulip and iris varieties and plant immediately.
Pots and planters: Bulbs in pots and planters work well. However, plant wallflower, pansy or myosotis to accompany them as it gives more interest.
Trees and shrubs: Now is a good time to plant or transplant trees and shrubs. The soil in still warm and growth is slowing. It gives plants time to establish themselves.
Greenhouse: It is time to clear the greenhouse of summer crops and make space for tender plants to get winter shelter. Use fleece to cover plants if winter temperatures drop.
Wildlife: Disinfect bird feeders
and fill them up with feed.
Do you have a gardening question? Email icl@farmersjournal.ie or post to Irish Country Living, Irish Farm Centre, Bluebell, Dublin 12.
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