Difference Between Fuji Mums & Mums

Color

• Although chrysanthemums are famous for their array of yellow, bronze and straw colors, you can find varieties in practically any color. For example, Garden chrysanthemums (Dendranthema morifolium), a popular species among home gardeners, come in coral, salmon, pink, purple, burgundy or lavender. Home gardeners in cold climates can take particular satisfaction in the display, often the last burst of color before winter begins. The Fuji Mum typically has red flowers, though you can also find it with pink, yellow or white flowers. Some varieties of Fuji mums and other mums also have two-toned flowers, with streaks or speckles.

Shape and Size

• The Fuji mum is a fairly compact variety of chrysanthemum, reaching a height of about 15 inches. Generally, chrysanthemums range in height from 15 inches to 3 feet depending on the variety and the planting location. When grown in containers, a single Fuji mum plant usually grows well in a 6-inch pot. All mum flowers have a combination of disk and ray-shaped flower petals, much like the sunflower, a closely related species. The petals toward the center of the flower are disk-type, short and tightly packed. At the edges of the flower, the ray-type petals are longer with a looser pattern. The Fuji mum's flowers have a distinctively convex shape.

Cultivation

• Planting mums is a handy way of adding color to your garden late in the growing season. Cultivated in China since the time of Christ, the flowers are easy to grow as either annuals or perennials. Garden mums are hardy through USDA hardiness zone 8, where annual lows dip to 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Florist mums, on the other hand, thrives in climates as far north as USDA hardiness zone 4, where temperatures drop to -30. Fuji mums are among the less hardy varieties, faring best in warmer locations.

Additional Considerations

• To grow healthy mums, whether Fujis or another variety, use well-drained soil with a generous amount of organic matter. Water them generously, especially during blooming. Mulch around a bed of mums to help the soil retain sufficient water and to reduce weed problems. Fertilize weekly. Attending to these growing requirements will reduce t problems such as powdery mildew, Botrytis blight, leaf spots, viruses and nematodes.