Thinking about chrysanthemums - in January?
January 29, 2011
I’ve written quite a few pieces about old fashioned hardy chrysanthemums over the years. Three months ago I published a piece in Britain’s Amateur Gardening magazine while the first, I think, was for Horticulture magazine in the USA many years ago. Click the image to read the Amateur Gardening piece, click the link to read the Horticulture piece.
So why am I mentioning them now, in the middle of winter when there's snow on the ground? Because now’s the time to order plants for spring planting.
First, by way of a quick recap, what’s so good about them?
- They’re hardy – all over Britain and down to zone 5
- They’re easy to grow – in any sunny place where the soil is not soggy
- They increase well – so can be divided after a year or two
- They’re resilient - many have been found flowering happily in long neglected gardens
- They’re good cut flowers - and last longer if the lower leaves are removed, the stems frequently re-cut (not crushed) and with flower food in the water.
- They’re elegant – not like those footstool mums we see on sale in pots in September
- They come in a vast variety of flower forms, sizes, colors and styles.
Here are some good places to order old fashioned hardy chrysanths in Britain.
Halls of Heddon
Norwell Nurseries
Southview Nurseries
Woottens of Wenhaston
World’s End Garden Nursery
Here are some good places to order old fashioned hardy chrysanths in North America.
Niche Gardens
Natureworks
Anyone know of any other good sources?
And be sure to check out Britain’s National Collection of hardy chrysanthemums.