Posted 10:17 pm Thursday, January 24, 2013
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Mawmaw’s Christmas Mum takes gray out of the day
By Dee Bishop
Smith County Master Gardener
Smith County Master Gardener
Mawmaw’s Christmas Mum is what Greg Grant calls this wonderful old-time chrysanthemum. He has grown it and introduced it to the public including the Smith County Master Gardeners’ Heritage Garden in the Tyler Rose Garden.
Gardens are certainly lacking in color at this time of year, but a clump of this lovely old plant caught my eye as I browsed looking for something beautiful to write about. A clump of red flowers was beckoning me to check it out.
I have featured other winter plants — hollies, camellias, narcissus, kale, etc. — which are all really lovely, but this little mum is a total surprise at this time of year.
Mums usually bloom in October and November. This one is blooming away right now as we speak! Compared with all the bright colors of spring and summer, this barn-red mum would scarcely stand out, however in the dead of winter all color stands out and this little plant is doing its darndest to cheer up all visitors to the garden.
Gardens are certainly lacking in color at this time of year, but a clump of this lovely old plant caught my eye as I browsed looking for something beautiful to write about. A clump of red flowers was beckoning me to check it out.
I have featured other winter plants — hollies, camellias, narcissus, kale, etc. — which are all really lovely, but this little mum is a total surprise at this time of year.
Mums usually bloom in October and November. This one is blooming away right now as we speak! Compared with all the bright colors of spring and summer, this barn-red mum would scarcely stand out, however in the dead of winter all color stands out and this little plant is doing its darndest to cheer up all visitors to the garden.
You can probably find Mawmaw’s Christmas Mum at plant sales. It certainly would be a great addition to your winter garden.
Who knows, maybe we can start some to have in our fall bulb sale!
Dee Bishop is a Smith County Master Gardener. She writes about plants growing within the Tyler Rose Garden.
Who knows, maybe we can start some to have in our fall bulb sale!
Dee Bishop is a Smith County Master Gardener. She writes about plants growing within the Tyler Rose Garden.
