Daisy Pom Vs. Gerbera Daisy

Mum's the Word

• Pompon chrysanthemums are in Class 6 and embrace a wide variety of cultivars that generally grow best in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9. Pompon mums range from the small, "button" mums to flowers measuring 4 inches in diameter. While many pompon cultivars have petals so tightly held they conceal the center, daisy-like pompon mums have visible centers and petals spaced farther apart. Pompon mums are available in all colors except blue. The plants have a mounding habit and produce deeply lobed, dark green foliage. These perennials die back in winter and begin growing again in spring in their hardiness zones. Flowers appear from late summer to autumn.

Chrysanthemum Culture

• The National Chrysanthemum Society's website states that chrysanthemums are suitable for growing in the garden or in pots and make attractive additions to cut flower arrangements. Planting mums in the spring after all danger of frost is gone allows the plants to develop a sturdy root system long before winter returns. Chrysanthemums prefer full sun and rich, well-drained, somewhat acidic soil. Mums need at least three hours of direct sunlight per day for maximum growth and flowering. Provide 1 inch of water per week until flowering begins, and then water three times per week.

Pushing Daisies

• Hailing from the Transvaal in South Africa, the Gerbera or Transvaal daisy grows best in USDA zones 8 through 10, although the plants are often grown as annuals in colder zones. Gerberas produce brilliantly colored flowers in white, yellow, pink, red or orange with centers ranging from green to black, red and brown. Blooms are up to 5 inches across. The plants have long, concave leaves that are often lobed, but less deeply than mums. Like mums, Gerbera daisies do well in containers or in the garden and add intense color to cut flower arrangements.

Daisy Culture

• When planting gerbera daisies, well-drained, sandy soil is preferred, but the soil should get a boost of compost or other organic matter mixed in at planting time. Make sure the crown of the plant is above the soil line. The plants thrive in full sun, but need some shade in hotter climates. Oddly, the crown of Gerbera daisies settles into the soil eventually and becomes susceptible to crown rot. This can be avoided by gently digging up and lifting the crown when it becomes submerged in soil. Allow the crown to dry out between waterings. Gerbera daisies benefit from a 1- to 2-inch layer of organic mulch on the soil around them, but not touching the crown.