Chrysanthemum zawadskii is a compact, clump-forming perennial native to alpine slopes, streambanks, and grasslands across eastern Europe, Siberia, Japan, Korea, and northern China. Hardy in zones 5 through 9, it grows 18 to 24 inches tall with showy flowers that bloom from August through November, right up to the first hard frost. Deer and rabbits leave it alone, while butterflies and other pollinators visit reliably. Low maintenance and drought-tolerant once established, it grows from woody purplish creeping rhizomes and thrives in full sun with moderate water.
Full Sun
Moderate
5-9
24in H x 18in W
—
High
Hover over chart points for details
This species produces solitary flowers (occasionally appearing in loose clusters) that butterflies can't resist, and it's completely ignored by deer and rabbits. The compact, mounded growth habit means it stays tidy without constant fussing. Flowering extends deep into fall, providing color when most gardens are fading, and the plant bounces back after cutting down to 6 inches post-bloom with simple mulching.
Chrysanthemums serve as fall garden staples, providing late-season color when most perennials have finished flowering. The showy blooms attract butterflies and other pollinators to the garden throughout August, September, October, and November. They work well in mixed borders, as specimen plantings in containers, or massed for dramatic fall displays. The flowers can be cut for arrangements, extending their display indoors.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Pinch stems back from late spring through mid-summer to control height and encourage bushy vegetative growth; this technique delays flowering from mid to late summer and produces more compact plants. Leave stems unpinched if you prefer looser, more open growth. After flowering concludes, cut plants back to 6 inches and apply mulch to protect the plant through winter.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
“Chrysanthemum zawadskii takes its name from the Greek words chrysos (gold) and anthemon (flower), a nod to the genus's precious blooms. The species inhabits a vast geographic range from the Carpathian and Ural mountains of eastern Europe through Siberia into Japan, Korea, and northern China, suggesting a hardy lineage shaped by extreme climates. Garden mums as we know them today descend from about 20 species in the Chrysanthemum genus, many of which have been extensively hybridized. This particular species represents the wilder ancestor from which numerous cultivars have been developed, serving as an important genetic resource for breeding compact, cold-hardy garden varieties.”