Are Mums Annuals Or Perennials?

Mums mean it’s time for college football, bonfires, and pumpkin spice everything! Their bright colors range from sunny yellow to hot pink to burgundy, and they last for weeks, making them the perfect backdrop for lavish fall displays of gourds, corn stalks, and hay bales.

 But if you plant chrysanthemums this fall, will they come back next year? The truth is: It’s always a gamble. Read on to discover what you can do to give them their best chance at returning for subsequent seasons.

Annuals Or Perennials?

Technically, mums are perennials, so that they should come back every year just like other perennial plants, such as daylilies and catmint. Unfortunately, in many cases, fall-planted mums simply don’t make it through the winter.

That’s because when you plant mums in the fall, they may not have enough time to develop a strong root system before winter arrives. The plant spends energy flowering and trying to set seeds to reproduce—and not enough energy pushing root growth. Strong roots are what helps a plant get through the winter months ahead.

How To Get Your Mums To Come Back Next Year

Plant chrysanthemums in the ground as early in the growing season as possible—even if that means ordering them through a nursery for spring planting. Waiting until you see mums at the garden centers in the fall means they’ll have a much shorter window to get established before cold weather sets in.

At the very latest, get mums in the ground no later than September if you want to give them their best chance at returning. And forget about planting them in containers because the roots typically will not be insulated sufficiently to protect them from freezes.

After your mums are done blooming, deadhead, or cut off the spent blooms. Unlike plants such as marigolds or shrub roses that you deadhead to encourage the flowers to keep coming, deadheading mums doesn’t cause the plant to produce new blooms this year. Instead, it helps the plant focus on growing roots.

Finally, keep your plants well-watered throughout the season, especially if you’re having a particularly hot and dry late summer and early fall. These plants are thirsty and will not do well if they’re allowed to wilt.

While there are no guarantees that your efforts will pay off, these simple steps will give your mum plant a better chance at surviving the winter—and returning next spring!