Chrysanthemum
Pinch out growing tips in late spring/early summer to force bushier growth and more flowers come autumn. In hot inland gardens give afternoon shade, since harsh sun can scorch the late-season blooms.
- Sun
- full sun
- Water
- moderate
- Spacing
- 40cm
- Difficulty
- intermediate
- Grows in
- Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago, Invercargill / Southland
- Mature height
- 80cm
- Flowering season
- Feb, Mar, Apr
- Common diseases
- Rust, Powdery mildew
- Common pests
- Aphids
When to plant by region
In Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Napier / Hawke's Bay: August-September. In Hamilton / Waikato, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago and Invercargill / Southland: September.
Growing stages
Germination & planting
- Space plants around 40cm apart in a full-sun bed with good airflow between them, which helps resist the powdery mildew this genus is prone to
- Choose free-draining soil, as chrysanthemums dislike sitting wet over winter
Establishment
- Watch for aphids on young growth
- Water moderately while roots establish, keeping foliage dry where possible to reduce the risk of rust and powdery mildew
Vegetative growth
- Pinch out growing tips in late spring/early summer to force bushier growth and more flowers come autumn
- Rust and powdery mildew can appear on foliage, especially in humid conditions
FloweringFebruary to April
- In hot inland gardens give afternoon shade, since harsh sun can scorch the late-season blooms
- Watch for rust and powdery mildew on foliage while in bloom
- Aphids can cluster on flower buds
Dieback & dormancy
- Cut back spent stems once flowering finishes over autumn/winter
- Growth slows over winter before resuming from the base the following spring