Perennial Chrysanthemum Plants for Sale – The Best Hardy Garden Mums

Chrysanthemums affectionately called “mums,” are iconic autumn flowers. But did you know that perennial mums can be purchased to provide long-lasting color in gardens and landscapes? Hardy garden mums make outstanding additions for seasonal interest in the fall garden.

Read on to learn all about perennial chrysanthemum plants and where to find the best selections for sale online and in-store.

Overview of Perennial Chrysanthemum Plants

Most people are familiar with florist mums – the potted plants sold in masses of color for fall decorating. But there are perennial garden mums that act quite differently than these short-lived seasonal plants.

Perennial mums reliably return each year, yielding a bounty of cheerful daisy-like blooms when most everything else in the garden has faded. These hardy plants are available from reputable nurseries and garden centers.

Most perennial mums offered for sale are cultivars of the species Chrysanthemum x morifolium. Through careful breeding, these plants were selected for enhanced flower colors, shapes, sizes, and most importantly – cold hardiness.

Benefits of Hardy Chrysanthemum Plants

Here are some reasons perennial mums make great additions to the home landscape and garden:

• Provide weeks of fall color from August/September through first frost
• Easy care, thrive in most soils with full sun exposure
• Extremely cold hardy returning for many years (zones 5-9)
• One plant can produce hundreds of blossoms
• Deer and rabbit resistant
• Available in wide range of flower forms and colors
• Long-lived when planted properly and given good winter drainage

These rugged plants reward the gardener with a vibrant display just when it’s needed most – as the majority of flowers start fading in autumn.

Choosing the Best Garden Mum Plants

When shopping for perennial mums, look for:

• Healthy foliage and root systems (avoid rootbound plants)
• Well-branched, full shapes (not thin and leggy)
• Labels specifying flower color and growth habit
• Established in individual pots or cell packs

Reputable perennial growers and retailers will provide good product descriptions to help match you with the right mums. Buy locally if possible and inspect plants carefully prior to purchasing.

Also consider bloom time – early, mid or late-season flowering. Blend varieties for the longest lasting color in borders and beds.

How to Plant and Grow Hardy Chrysanthemums

Here are some tips for successfully growing perennial mums:

• Plant in spring after the last frost
• Choose a spot with full sun and rich, well-draining soil
• Space plants 18-24” apart in holes twice as wide as the root ball
• Cut stems back halfway in early summer to encourage bushy growth
• Water during drought and fertilize lightly with balanced flower food
• Leave plants intact over winter; cut back dead stalks in early spring
• Divide large plants every 2-3 years in early spring

With the right growing conditions, hardy garden mums will thrive for many years of beauty.

Where to Find Perennial Chrysanthemums for Sale

Reliable sources for perennial mums include:

• Local garden centers and nurseries – Buy plants when available in spring & early summer. Inspect roots and stems closely.

• Mail-order perennial retailers – Reputable online sellers ship healthy, field-grown plants. Order early for best selection.

• Local farmers markets – Some vendors sell potted mums grown locally. Buy in spring to establish plants.

• Wholesale perennial growers – Large commercial growers sell in bulk to retailers but some will sell direct to public as well.

Check reputable local and online sources to find the perfect hardy perennial mums to brighten up your fall garden with lasting color.

Popular Varieties of Hardy Garden Mums

There are countless beautiful perennial mum varieties to choose from. Here are a few top performers:

• ‘Autumn Colors’ – Blend of bronze, red, yellow, and pink flowers on one plant

• ‘Clara Curtis’ – Profuse double pink pompom-type blooms

• ‘Camilla’ – Large yellow single daisies up to 5” across

• ‘Mei-Kyo’ – Extremely floriferous with intense ruby-red blooms

• ‘Sheffield Pink’ – Abundant soft pink double blooms, muy fragrant

• ‘Viette’s Apricot Glow – Warm apricot color, blooms early to mid-season

Check tags for bloom times and plant heights to find the right mum types for your garden conditions and needs.

Designing With Hardy Chrysanthemums

There are so many ways to incorporate perennial mums into the autumn garden and landscape:

• Mass in borders for bold swaths of fall color
• Use in containers for decks, patios and porches
• Underplant trees and shrubs that bloom earlier
• Mix colors for vibrant accent plantings
• Highlight garden entries and pathways
• Plant among spring bulbs like tulips and daffodils

Perennial mums are the perfect plant partners to take gardens from summer through the end of the season in style.

Caring for Hardy Garden Mums Over Winter

The key to getting perennial mums through winter is providing drainage:

• Avoid thick mulches that hold moisture
• Plant mums on slopes or raised beds to reduce wetness
• Keep soil on the drier side in winter
• Wait until spring growth starts to cut back dead stalks
• Cover with evergreen boughs in very cold climates for added insulation

With a proper site and winter care, your hardy chrysanthemums will deliver years of rewarding flowers.

Hardy perennial mums are too good to be used as temporary annuals. Take advantage of the outstanding garden chrysanthemums available for sale to enjoy flashes of autumn cheer for seasons to come.