Hardy Chrysanthemum 'Mary Stoker'

An excellent garden plant, one of the most popular of garden chrysanthemums. A soft yellow single, one of the rubellum hybrids bred by Am...Read Moreos Perry around WW2.

Garden chrysanthemums (including the "rubellum hybrids"---a trade name rather than a botanical one) are distinctly different from the "hardy mums" commonly sold in garden centers in the fall for bedding. For garden chrysanthemums to winter over reliably, they need to be planted in the spring. They're heavy feeders and tend to exhaust the soil quickly. Clumps tend to die out in the centers. They also tend to spread rather quickly, though they're easily pulled out where not wanted. For all these reasons, they need frequent spring division with soil renewal, at least every 2-3 years.

A few times, exceptionally early springs have also triggered a spring flush of bloom, as happens routinely with mums in the South. (For the best/most bloom, it's best to prevent the spring flush by pinching back as soon as the buds appear).

Garden chrysanthemums are usually pinched back in late spring, to induce branching, to increase flower bud production, and to reduce height and the need for support. The standard advice here is to stop pinching by July 4th.

CHRYSANTHEMUM Rubellum - Mary Stoker - Medium 28" - Plant 16" apart. Zone 4-9. Forms a handsome mound of large daisy flowers. Golden stra...Read Morew colored blossoms open in September, and then deepen with age. Very showy.

Plant Care:
Tolerates drought. Can be pinched to increase the number of blooms. Spreads nicely.


Blooms: Late Summer, Early Fall to Late Fall

Flower Color: Yellow

Sun-Shade: Full Sun to Mostly Sunny

Accent Color: Yellow

Soil Condition: Normal

Plant Height: Medium

Zones: z4,z5,z6,z7,z8,z9