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 is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with moderate maintenance.

Garden Mum

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Chrysanthemum x morifolium

Last reviewed: September 2026

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.

Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants so you can choose a pet-safe native alternative for your yard.

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 458 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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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.

In an HOA neighborhood

Garden Mum is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: moderate. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.

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 is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with moderate maintenance.

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.

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