Emily Chrysanthemum is a popular cultivar that brings vibrant color to gardens, especially in the later growing season. Its appealing blooms and straightforward care make it a favored choice for many gardeners seeking a reliable and beautiful perennial.
Understanding Emily Chrysanthemum
Emily Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum ‘Emily’) is an herbaceous perennial with a mounded growth habit and fine-textured foliage. It typically reaches about 20 inches in height and spread at maturity, grows at a medium rate, and can live for approximately 10 years. Its dark green, fragrant, ferny leaves persist throughout the growing season.
This cultivar features double pink daisy-like flowers with rose centers, covering the plant from early to late fall. The flowers, measuring 3.5 cm to 6 cm wide, are excellent for cutting. Emily Chrysanthemum is also low maintenance and deer resistant, making it an attractive landscape addition.
Cultivating Emily Chrysanthemum
Light Requirements
Emily Chrysanthemum requires at least six hours of direct sun daily for optimal growth and flowering. More sunlight generally leads to stronger plants, larger blooms, and more intense flower coloration. While full sun is ideal, it can also perform well in partial shade. In areas with intense summer heat, midday shade can prevent leaf scorch.
Watering Needs
This plant prefers consistently moist conditions. It has moderate drought tolerance but benefits from stable humidity to maintain lush foliage. Water Emily Chrysanthemum about once a week, ensuring the soil remains evenly moist without becoming waterlogged, which can negatively affect root health and blooming. Container-grown plants may require more frequent watering.
Soil Preferences
Emily Chrysanthemum adapts to various soil types. It prefers well-draining soil to prevent root rot. Ensuring good drainage is more important than specific soil pH levels.
Fertilization
Regular fertilization supports robust growth and abundant blooms. Apply a balanced fertilizer, such as a 10-10-10 formula, monthly during the active growing season. Avoid over-fertilization and cease feeding during winter. When applying, do so in the morning and follow with thorough watering.
Pruning for Health and Shape
Pruning encourages bushiness, enhances bloom production, and maintains overall plant health. Techniques include deadheading spent flowers for continuous blooming and cutting back damaged or leggy growth. The optimal time for significant pruning is late winter or early spring before new growth emerges. Regular pruning also improves air circulation, reducing disease risk.
Overwintering
Emily Chrysanthemum typically dies back to the crown each winter, regrowing from the base in spring. It tolerates cold down to -20°C (-4°F). In colder climates, protecting the plant with frost coverings can be beneficial. Avoiding fertilization in the fall also helps the plant prepare for winter dormancy.
Addressing Common Challenges
Pests and Diseases
Emily Chrysanthemum can be susceptible to pests like aphids, spider mites, glasshouse whitefly, and capsid bugs. These can often be managed with insecticidal soaps or by encouraging natural predators. Diseases such as powdery mildew, chrysanthemum white rust, and glasshouse grey mold may also affect the plant. Ensuring good air circulation through proper spacing and pruning helps prevent fungal diseases. If diseases appear, fungicides may be necessary.
Environmental Stress
Improper growing conditions can lead to environmental stress. Overwatering results in root rot and leaf yellowing, while insufficient watering causes wilting. Stunted growth might indicate nutrient deficiencies, addressed through appropriate fertilization. During high heat, leaf scorch or dehydration can occur, necessitating increased watering and temporary shading.
Propagating Emily Chrysanthemum
Emily Chrysanthemum can be propagated through division, stem cuttings, or by sowing fresh seeds. Division is a common method. For stem cuttings, root softwood cuttings in peat-free potting compost during spring at around 16°C. When sowing, use well-draining soil and maintain consistent moisture and warmth for germination. Once true leaves emerge, transplant seedlings gently into individual pots.