Chrysanthemums, often called mums, are a fixture of the autumn landscape, providing a burst of color as other garden plants fade. These dense, colorful blooms are widely available in grocery stores and garden centers, marking the transition into the cooler months. Because they are one of the last major floral resources of the year, many gardeners assume they offer a valuable food source for pollinators like bees. However, the question of whether these popular flowers actually attract and nourish bees is more complex than it first appears.
The Pollination Paradox: Why Mums Are Confusing
The answer to whether mums attract bees is not a simple yes or no. While some varieties of Chrysanthemum are attractive to bees and other insects, the most common, commercially sold cultivars are often poor sources of nectar and pollen. Many chrysanthemums found in seasonal displays have been bred for their appearance—specifically, for large, dense, and long-lasting flower heads. This intense focus on ornamental traits has inadvertently reduced or eliminated the biological structures that produce food accessible to pollinators. Bees that visit these highly hybridized mums often leave quickly, having found little reward.
Anatomy of Attraction: Nectar and Pollen Accessibility
To understand the difference, one must look closely at the flower structure. The chrysanthemum is a composite flower head, similar to a daisy, comprised of two types of tiny flowers, or florets. The showy, colorful “petals” around the outside are ray florets, while the small bumps that form the center disk are the disc florets. In a wild or “single-flowered” chrysanthemum, the disc florets are the reproductive parts, housing the accessible nectar and pollen that bees seek.
Modern breeding has exploited a natural genetic mutation to achieve the fluffy, ball-like appearance of many decorative mums. This process converts the reproductive disc florets into extra ray florets, essentially turning the food-producing center into more petals. For these hybridized mums, the floral parts that would interest any pollinator are difficult to find, if they exist at all. This structural change makes the remaining pollen and nectar inaccessible, even if a bee attempts to burrow deep into the flower head.
Choosing Bee-Friendly Chrysanthemums
Gardeners looking to support late-season pollinators should actively seek out specific types of chrysanthemums. The crucial distinction is between single-flowered and double-flowered varieties. Single-flowered mums are often referred to as heirloom or “open-centered” types because they retain the classic daisy shape. Their central disc florets are fully exposed, offering a clear landing pad and easy access to pollen and nectar rewards.
In contrast, double-flowered mums include popular types like pompom, decorative, and mophead varieties, which feature a dense, layered appearance. These varieties have the highest conversion of disc florets to ray florets, meaning their reproductive centers are completely obscured or absent. By choosing open-centered varieties that clearly display a visible yellow or brown center, a gardener ensures the bloom functions as a food source rather than just a decoration.
Late-Season Alternatives for Pollinators
Since many commercially available chrysanthemums offer little benefit, gardeners can turn to other late-blooming plants to sustain bees and other pollinators through autumn. Native plants provide high-quality nectar and pollen. Asters, such as the Michaelmas Daisy, are a valuable choice, offering flat, easily accessible flowers that attract a variety of bees and butterflies.
Goldenrod (Solidago) is an excellent native option that provides abundant resources in the late season. Sedum varieties, particularly ‘Autumn Joy’ stonecrop, form large, landing-pad-like flower heads that attract honeybees and moths well into the fall. Other beneficial alternatives include Joe Pye Weed, Anise Hyssop, and Zinnias.