As a special thanks to our fabulous mums for all the amazing things they do all year round, there is no question that the best Mother’s Day gift is the simple act of giving flowers.
“But did you know that the favourite flowers given on this special day are the vibrant and fragrant chrysanthemums, also commonly known as ‘mums’.”
So with the big day on Sunday 14th May, we set out to find out everything there is to know about our ‘mums’ of the floral variety from the difference between the most popular varieties to how to care for them.
Here we explain the difference between the five most popular types of ‘mums’ and give helpful tips to make them last longer.
RED – DAISY CHRYSANTHEMUM
Red Daisy chrysanthemum is covered in stunning red daisy flowers with yellow eyes at the ends of the stems. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its fragrant ferny leaves remain dark green in colour too throughout the season.
WHITE – POLARIS
This tried-and-true favourite with traditionalists has been putting a smile on mums’ faces for longer than most. Available in white, cream, yellow, and shades of pink, the Polaris is mainstay of almost every bouquet because of its versatility and long-lasting qualities – up to 10-12 days.
GREEN – SPIDER
Appropriately named for their long, curling petals that look like spiders sitting on top of stems, spider mums are revered as one of the more unusual chrysanthemum plant types.
YELLOW – DISBUD
So named because this varietal has just one single large flower per stem, produced by moving all the side buds when the plant is still young. With an eye-catching bloom 7-9cm in diameter, a yellow disbud makes the perfect focal flower for any Mother’s Day ‘mum’ arrangement.
PINK – POMPOM
A small globular bloom, somewhat flat when young, but fully round and bursting with character when mature. Size ranges from small button types to large disbudded blooms almost 10cm in diametre. The florets incurve or reflex in a regular manner and fully conceal the centre.
7 TIPS TO LOOK AFTER YOUR ‘MUMS
Chrysanthemums are a forgiving flower and have a good vase life. Even still, it’s handy to know these little tricks to keep them vibrant for longer.
- Ensure your vase or vessel is very clean.
- Chrysanthemums have a woody stem, so you need to help them absorb water. Before placing them in a clean vase, trim 2 to 5 cm off the stem base at a sharp angle. Every few days, trim 1 cm off the stem to aid water absorption.
- Place flowers in clean tepid water, enough for them not to go dry quickly- about half the vase full.
- Strip leaves that would be below the water line.
- Remove leaves from the stem when they start to droop.
- Change the water regularly.
- For a maximum vase life and display, don’t mix chrysanthemums with other flowers. They release a chemical called ethylene, which may cause other flowers to wilt quickly.
WHAT THE COLOURS MEAN
Chrysanthemums generally symbolise longevity, fidelity, joy and optimism. Various colours symbolise other important meanings as well.
- Red chrysanthemums symbolise love and devotion.
- Yellow chrysanthemums symbolise happiness and joy.
- White chrysanthemums symbolise loyalty and honesty.
- Violet chrysanthemums symbolise a wish to good health.
For more fabulous flower stories, head to the Sydney Markets website for their regular flower blogs and inspiration.
