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Garden Mum

Chrysanthemum x morifolium

Last reviewed: November 2026

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Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum x morifolium)
Photo: Jebulon

Garden Mum is toxic to dogs and cats.

Listed as toxic by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) (last reviewed 2026-08-15). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 and your veterinarian's emergency line.

The Pollinator Patch App flags toxic plants so you can choose a native alternative that is not on the ASPCA toxic plant list.

Light

full sun

Water

medium

Size

12"–36" H × 12"–36" W

Bloom

Sep, Oct, Nov

Native alternatives to Garden Mum

Garden Mum is not native to the United States. These natives fill a similar role in a planting, matched on bloom season, bloom color and mature size.

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 464 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Picture natives in your own yard

Wondering what could grow where Garden Mum is now? Upload a photo of the spot and Patch Vision shows a rendering of it replanted with natives for your region.

Try it with your yard

A bushy perennial grown for a dense flush of flowers in fall, in nearly every color. Plants bought already blooming in autumn are often treated as seasonal color, since late planting leaves no time to root before winter. Pinching through early summer produces a fuller plant.

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How to care for Garden Mum, by region

How to care for Garden Mum where it is actually grown: year-round basics plus what to do each season, region by region, with the sources for each.

Care guidance last updated: November 2026

Enter your ZIP code and we will open the guidance for your region.

Piedmont (includes Atlanta, GA)

Year-round

Garden mums are non native perennials that grow all season and bloom in fall. They like sun, well drained soil and a few trims in summer.

  • Give them full sun. In warm places, shade from hot afternoon sun helps.
  • Use well drained soil rich in organic matter.
  • Too much shade makes them sprawl.
  • Divide clumps in spring every few years so they do not get crowded.

Fall

Fall is bloom time. The late flowers are a useful nectar source for pollinators.

  • Stop trimming by mid August so buds can form.
  • Water if the soil dries out while buds are setting.
  • Enjoy the flowers as the weather cools.

Winter

In the South, mums overwinter outdoors easily, so winter needs little from you.

  • Leave plants in the ground through winter.
  • No digging up or greenhouse is needed in Atlanta, per the Plant Toolbox note for the South.
  • Avoid soggy soil while plants are dormant.

Spring

Spring is when mums start growing and when you divide crowded clumps.

  • Divide congested clumps in spring.
  • Start trimming back new growth to keep plants bushy.
  • Keep the soil lightly moist as growth starts.

Summer

Summer is for trimming so plants stay bushy and bloom in fall instead of early.

  • The Plant Toolbox suggests cutting plants back about three times across spring and summer.
  • Make the last cut around mid August.
  • Protect from hot afternoon sun if leaves scorch.

Sources: Chrysanthemum x morifolium (NC State Extension Plant Toolbox)

In an HOA neighborhood

Garden Mum takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: moderate. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: front yard, foundation bed, border.

Wildlife value

Flowers offer nectar that generalist visitors will use, but as a non-native it feeds no local caterpillars. Treat it as garden interest rather than habitat.

Common questions

How much sun does Garden Mum need?
Garden Mum grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Garden Mum bloom?
Garden Mum blooms in September, October, and November.
Is Garden Mum toxic to dogs?
Yes. Garden Mum is listed as toxic to dogs by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
Is Garden Mum toxic to cats?
Yes. Garden Mum is listed as toxic to cats by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your cat has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
Is Garden Mum HOA-friendly?
Garden Mum takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

See all plant problem guides

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