MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The brilliant colors of chrysanthemums, or mums, signal the arrival of fall across West Virginia. But without the right care, these seasonal favorites can quickly dry out and fade before the season’s end, according to a West Virginia University plant expert.
“Mums are cool-season flowers, so hot temperatures will cause them to fade,” said Mira Danilovich, consumer horticulture specialist with West Virginia University Extension in Morgantown. “Because of this, it is best to purchase mums when daily temperatures are consistently around 60 degrees Fahrenheit.”
As both container and garden plants, chrysanthemums are vibrant fall-blooming flowers that add rich color to gardens and landscapes as the weather cools. Available in a wide range of colors—from deep reds and purples to bright yellows and oranges—they're prized for their long-lasting blooms and for brightening outdoor spaces when many other plants have faded.
While they thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, proper care—including consistent watering at the base, regular fertilization, and deadheading spent flowers—is essential to extend their blooming period. Hardy varieties can even survive winter in temperate climates, returning year after year, making mums a reliable and versatile choice for gardeners seeking autumnal beauty.
Danilovich explained that with proper attention, they should last between six to eight weeks. However, their lifespan can be significantly shortened if they are overwatered or underwatered.
“When watering, it is important not to get the leaves and buds wet, as this increases the risk of disease and injury,” she said. “Plants are best watered at the soil level, right at their base.”
For the brightest and longest-lasting blooms, Danilovich recommends placing them in full sun and feeding them regularly.
“Insufficient nutrient supply is a frequent problem in mums,” she said. “To extend the blooms, add a fertilizer with a higher potassium content every two to three weeks.”
Routine maintenance also helps them thrive. “Mums require deadheading, which is the removal of the spent flowers,” Danilovich said. “After they are finished blooming, spent flowers must be cut off to ensure the plant’s energy will not be spent on forming seeds but on forming new flower buds and extending the bloom season.”
For gardeners hoping to plant them in the ground, Danilovich suggests choosing hardy varieties and planting them around late October.
West Virginia is well-suited to growing mums
West Virginia is well-suited to growing mums due to its cool fall temperatures, ample sunlight, and fertile soil, all of which create ideal conditions for these seasonal flowers to thrive.
Mums prefer cooler weather, and the state’s temperate autumns help extend their vibrant blooms, while the full sun common in many West Virginia gardens encourages healthy growth and colorful flowers.
Additionally, the state’s well-drained soils provide the proper environment for strong root development, and hardy mum varieties can survive the winter when planted in the ground and properly mulched.
How long can mums last into winter?
The longevity of chrysanthemums into the winter months depends largely on the type of plant and how it’s cared for.
Florist or decorative mums, which are commonly sold in pots at garden centers, are not hardy and generally will not survive past the first hard frost. Even with protection, these varieties typically die back once temperatures dip below 28 degrees Fahrenheit.
Hardy or garden mums, however, can survive cold weather and return the following year if planted early enough in the fall. In West Virginia’s climate, hardy mums can endure temperatures as low as minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit when properly insulated.
To help them overwinter successfully, Danilovich recommends planting hardy varieties by late October, applying 4–6 inches of mulch around the base after the first hard frost, and leaving the dead stems intact to protect the crown through the winter.
With proper care, the plants will go dormant during the cold months and bloom again the following fall.
Sydney Keener, a communications specialist with the West Virginia University Division for Land-Grant Engagement, contributed to this story.
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