Size of Chrysanthemums

Growth Height

• The average growth height of chrysanthemums depends in large part on the specific varietal you are growing. Cultivars such as Snowsota, Snowscape, Minnglow and Inca typically grow to 12 inches tall. Zonta, Rosy Glow, Mellow Moon, Maroon Pride and other cultivars grow up to 18 inches. The tallest cultivars, including Yellow Glow, Autumn Fire, Burnt Copper and others can grow over 18 inches tall.

Other Size Characteristics

• The size of the flowers that chrysanthemums produce is also cultivar-dependent. The largest flowers are seen on Wendy Ann, Rosy Glow, Mellow Moon, Lindy, Gold Country and Centerpiece chrysanthemums, all of which produce flowers around 4 inches or larger. Snowsota, Minnpink, Minnrose, Lemonsota and Centennial Sun all produce the smallest flowers, at 1 to 1 1/2 inches in size. The majority of chrysanthemums cultivars produce flowers of sizes in between these two extremes.

Other Growth Patterns

• There is also remarkable diversity among flowering patterns of different cultivars of chrysanthemum. Chrysanthemums flower into single (daisy-like flowers with a central "eye"), pompon (stiff, globular flowers), cushion or azalea, anemone (single flowers with a crest of darker petals), spoon-shaped or spider-shaped petals, quill-shaped flowers and many others. The shape of the flowering blooms can sometimes make a chrysanthemum appear larger or smaller than it actually is.

Other Considerations

• The cultivars discussed represent only a fraction of all the chrysanthemum varieties available to gardeners. The proliferation of hybrid and customized cultivars, some of which are bred specifically for their size characteristics, means that you may end up with a chrysanthemum varietal that is either much smaller or much larger than any of the varietals discussed.