Chrysanthemum Varieties: A Full Guide to Common Classifications and Characteristics

The chrysanthemum is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Chrysanthemum in the Asteraceae family, and it is also one of China's traditional famous flowers, with a very long history of cultivation. Through long-term selection and hybridization, the number of chrysanthemum varieties is extremely large, with flower colors, flower forms and plant shapes all differing from one another, making it one of the flower species with the richest variety in the world, often used for autumn flower shows, courtyard landscaping and potted display.

Classified by flowering period, chrysanthemums can be roughly divided into summer chrysanthemums, autumn chrysanthemums and cold chrysanthemums, among which autumn chrysanthemums are the most common, mostly opening after the weather turns cool in autumn. Classified by flower size, they can be divided into large chrysanthemums and small chrysanthemums; small chrysanthemums, also called spray types, have dense branches and flowers and are suitable for planting in masses or making into bonsai. In terms of cultivation form, there are also different shapes such as single-stem chrysanthemum, multi-head chrysanthemum, cliff chrysanthemum, large standing chrysanthemum and desk chrysanthemum, each with its own ornamental appeal.

In terms of petal shape, chrysanthemums include flat petals, spoon petals, tube petals, osmanthus petals and irregular petals, from which rich flower forms such as spherical, lotus type, dragon-claw type and flying type are formed. Among traditional famous varieties, Green Peony, Black Chrysanthemum, Shuaiqi and Ten-Zhang Beaded Curtain are all relatively widely circulated varieties, with flower colors covering yellow, white, pink, purple, green and various bicolor blends, among which the green series and the black-purple series are relatively rare and have particularly outstanding ornamental value.

When growing them at home, varieties can be chosen according to purpose. If you only want to decorate a balcony, you can pick small and medium-sized varieties with strong adaptability, which are relatively easy to manage; flower enthusiasts interested in shaping can try single-stem chrysanthemums or cliff chrysanthemums. Chrysanthemums like an environment with ample light and good ventilation, and dislike waterlogging and continuous cropping; during the growing period, pay attention to pinching and topping, and appropriately supplement phosphorus and potassium fertilizer before flowering, and the flowering quality will be better. In addition, tea varieties such as Hangbaiju and Taiju can also be brewed for drinking after being picked and dried, combining ornamental and practical value.