Fuchsia Spider Mums

Chrysanthemum Blooms

• Chrysanthemum flowers are composed of hundreds of disk and ray florets on what appear to be single blossoms. The center eye of a daisy-type flower is made up of disk florets, while the outer parts are ray florets. The National Chrysanthemum Society divides bloom forms into 13 classes. Spoon, quill, brush or thistle, unclassified and spider forms all have spidery appearances. The spoon form has a round visible center disk. The unclassified form has variable blooms not fitting into other classes, and sometimes exhibiting characteristics of more than one class. .

Spider Mums

• Spider mums are composed of long tubular ray florets. Individual florets sometimes hook or coil at the ends. Florets have very fine to course texture, depending on the variety. 'Fleur de Lis' is a large purple spider mum, with each floral structure composed of hundreds of florets spilling out from a full center. 'Evan's Dream' is a spider mum with large, light pink flowers. Flair is a tall plant with attractive dark-green foliage and lilac spider-form chrysanthemum flowers. Natalini has long, fine petaled spider-form flowers of pure pink on a tall plant. Seaton's Galaxy is deep purple. Vienna Waltz sports long tubular florets from full centers on a medium-height plant.

Quill

• Quill chrysanthemums have straight, tubular florets with open tips. Quills have a spidery effect and are often mistaken for spider mums. The fully-double blooms are without an open center. Carrousel has rich fuchsia blooms. Pittsburgh Purple has florets in a rich purple. King's Delight has creamy pink flowers with very fine quills on a medium-height plant. Lola is large plant with lilac-colored blooms. Seatons Ashleigh has a starry appearance with lavender-fuchsia blooms.

Spoon, Brush and Thistle

• Spoon chrysanthemums have an open center with ray florets terminating in a spoon shape. This form is charming when a spidery effect is desired with an open center. Fantasy has creamy-colored tubes with purple spoon tips on a medium-height plant. Whirlaway has pink tubes with darker spoons and a purple spot within the spoon, on a plant with long, sturdy stems. Maryll has pink tubes with red spoons for a fuchsia look on a tall plant. Brush and Thistle mums have fine tubular florets growing out from the stem resembling a paintbrush. In thistle forms the florets are flattened and drooping. Aoi is a thistle type producing a profusion of purple blooms on a medium-height plant. Wisp of Pink has pink thistle florets.