How many colors do chrysanthemums come in?

The chrysanthemum is one of China's traditional famous flowers, and its flower colors are extremely rich. The common colors include yellow, white, pink, red, purple, orange and green, and many varieties also bear multiple colors on a single flower, or have markings and picotee edges on the petals, forming various bicolor and multicolor patterns with high ornamental value.

The differences in chrysanthemum color are mainly related to varietal genetics and to the types and proportions of pigments contained in the petals. Generally speaking, carotenoids give the petals yellow and orange tones, while anthocyanins bring about red, pink and purple hues. Through long-term artificial selection, many varieties with different shades and forms have differentiated within the same color range, making the color gradations of chrysanthemums even richer.

Among the many colors, yellow chrysanthemums have a long history of cultivation and are one of the most common types, while white chrysanthemums are equally popular. Green chrysanthemums and dark purple chrysanthemums are relatively few in number and are often grown as specialty varieties for viewing. It should be noted that chrysanthemums in nature are almost never true blue, and the blue chrysanthemums occasionally seen on the market are mostly the result of artificial dyeing.

Chrysanthemums of different colors also differ somewhat in their uses. Some varieties in the yellow and white ranges are often used to make chrysanthemum tea or as medicinal raw materials, while chrysanthemums of all colors are commonly used materials for flowerbed arrangements, potted displays and cut-flower decoration; growers can choose suitable color combinations according to their ornamental and sales needs.

In addition, the depth of flower color is also related to some extent to daily care. When there is sufficient light and a suitable temperature difference between day and night, chrysanthemums usually color up more vividly; if light is insufficient for a long time, the flower color tends to fade. Good water and fertilizer management and pest and disease control can make the plants grow robustly, bloom more uniformly and show purer colors.