Keeping Mums

Getting carried along by the Chrysanthemum trend

Nov 24, 2024

Me: I’m having a mild panic
Me: I haven’t thought about NEXT season
L: You are aware we are still in spring?
Me: Rudbeckia, Chrysanthemum
Me: We can plant so much cute stuff and have amazing flowers in autumn/winter!
Me: Have you seen Sean Pritchard’s book?
Me: I’m panicking

The above WhatsApp exchange took place on 3 May. My tulip bulbs were barely over. A few days before, Sean Pritchard’s first book ‘Outside In: A Year of Growing and Displaying’ had been published.

As a long term fan and follower of Sean’s astonishingly beautiful Instagram account, I had pre-ordered the book like any Proper Fan would. On its arrival, I fell to devouring its every perfect page.

And then, I panicked.

[ The Chrysanthemum bed at Water Lane, 15.11.2024, photograph by me ]

I texted my friend Laura. Poor Laura, who is highly organised and a far more experienced gardener than I, often gets texts from me completely out of the blue, apropos of nothing, about my garden.

“I am not a lover of Chrysanthemums,” Laura said, speaking for the nation.

A year ago, I would have shuddered at the thought of a bunch of Chrysanthemums. Truly petrol station flowers, I would have said. ‘Mums’ as they are sometimes known. And it is exactly that saccharine, smothering, suburban-nightmare vibe that many associate with the flower.

[ Chrysanthemum ‘Allouise Salmon’, Water Lane, 15.11.2024, photograph by me ]

I had seen Chrysanthemums Direct’s stall at Chelsea the year before but it was not until browsing their comprehensive website after the post-Pritchard panic that I realised the enormous range of Chrysanthemums available. Just like Dahlias, there are spidery ones, blousy ones, daisy-looking ones, enormous otherworldly ones as big as a cheerleader’s pom-pom. Not to mention, one called ‘Lucy’ (ever bit as silly and OTT as her namesake, assuming it is me).

A month later I ordered twelve varieties as 9cm pots from Farmyard Nurseries and Shire Plants. They were brilliant, healthy specimens. And then I forgot all about them. Overlooked in favour of the burgeoning floral abundance of summer. Several died. Those that survived were finally planted out in August. Then, the caterpillars came and ate several otherwise happy plants.

[ Cut Chrysanthemums in the café at Water Lane, 15.11.2024, photograph by me ]

In the end, I was left with a sprig of ‘Starlet’, a small yield of ‘Chelsea Physic Garden’ and some half-munched ‘Apollo’.

As a consolation - and breaking for the first time in months my ‘buy no cut flowers’ rule - I bought myself the most stunning red and gold Chrysanthemums from a local florist.

These were the glorious, noble Chrysanthemums. The Chrysanthemums worthy of being one of the Chinese garden’s ‘Four Gentlemen’. Worthy of the Japanese Imperial Seal. Worthy of exquisite representation in ancient art, textiles and porcelain from across East Asia. And their vase life was incredible.

[ Cut Chrysanthemums in the café at Water Lane, 15.11.2024, photograph by me ]

This is surely the most compelling argument in favour of growing Chrysanthemums. They are an unparalleled cut flower. Flowers I cut from the garden almost 2 weeks ago are still vital and not a petal has dropped. They go on and on and on and on.

After the death and decimation of most of my Chrysanthemum babies, my next mistake was in not anticipating that in this year of bizarre, unexpected and extreme London weather the first frost of the year would be more than two months early.

Even had I anticipated this freak first frost I am not sure I would have thought to bring the plants inside to keep blooming, but Chrysanthemums can keep going all the way up to Christmas.

[ Chrysanthemum ‘Spider Bronze’, Water Lane, 15.11.2024, photograph by me ]

I can well believe it is possible - my plants were only just getting going. Without thinking, I pulled them out of the beds in order to plant spring-flowering bulbs in their place. Kicking myself.

So, ok, my first foray into the world of autumn-flowering Chrysanthemums was not an overwhelming success. No matter. I am convinced.

Just as everything else in the garden waned, the Chrysanthemums were coming into bud for the first time. This was not the tail-end of their season, this was their great inauguration.

[ Unknown Chrysanthemum, Water Lane, 15.11.2024, photograph by me ]

Were I to need further convincing (I did not) a trip to Water Lane last week would have persuaded me. With bare beds lying all around it, the bed of Chrysanthemums sang.

So, notes for next year: