How to grow chrysanthemums

Chrysanthemums like a warm, sheltered location with plenty of sun, and they need soil that is fertile but free draining – they don’t do at all well in heavy, wet or claggy conditions. It’s also important to choose a spot that is properly dark in the evening rather than under a street lamp as these short-day plants are stimulated to flower as the nights get longer.

Plants can be bought in spring as rooted cuttings or small plants, or later in the year as mature specimens, which will provide instant colour and impact. They should be planted out into borders or containers when there’s no further risk of frost, and they’ll flower from late summer until around November.

For healthy plants and lots of flowers, feed regularly, water during dry spells and deadhead as necessary. Pinching out the shoot tips in summer will give you a bushier plant with more flower-bearing side shoots, and keep an eye out for slug damage, particularly when plants are young.

At the end of the season, let the plant die back naturally and don’t cut back the stems until growth starts in spring. Hardiness and growing conditions inevitably vary, and while some cultivars may do well in the herbaceous border, in chilly areas or cold winters it can be a good idea to cover with fleece. Containers and lifted plants can also be brought into an unheated greenhouse or shed to overwinter or, if in doubt, take cuttings as an insurance.

Propagation is simple. Divide the plant by digging up the root ball in spring and cutting it into sections. Pot up the younger, more vigorous outer parts and discard the woody centre. Alternatively, take cuttings in autumn or early spring. Cut healthy sections of stem that are 10–15cm (4–6in) long, trim the base just below the lowest node then plunge into a pot of gritty compost. Water and place in a propagator or plastic bag. Roots should soon start to appear and the young plants can then be potted up and grown on in a frost-free place.

For healthy plants with lots of flowers, feed and deadhead regularly

Zinc containers of autumn chrysanths enhance the seasonal hues. Featured here are pastelcoloured Dreamstar ‘Echo’ (‘Purleigh White’ is a UK alternative) and Multiflora orange ‘Kipli’ (try ‘Dixer Orange’)

With their diverse range of flower colours, chrysanthemums partner well with a host of foliage and flowering plants