Chrysanthemums, commonly known as mums, are a quintessential flower of the autumn season, providing a burst of color when many other plants begin to fade. These popular blooms are available in a broad spectrum of hues, from deep burgundies and bright yellows to delicate pinks and purples. Choosing the best combinations of these colors can transform a simple display into a sophisticated or dramatic statement. Pairing these shades involves applying basic principles of color theory to achieve either high-contrast excitement or a pleasing, blended tranquility.
Understanding Mums by Color Temperature
The array of mum colors can be divided into two primary categories based on color temperature, which corresponds to the pigments present in the petals. “Warm” colors include yellows, oranges, reds, and bronzes, with their hues often derived from carotenoid compounds. These colors tend to visually advance, making the arrangements feel energetic and prominent in a display.
Conversely, “cool” colors encompass pinks, purples, and whites, with pinks and purples typically due to the accumulation of anthocyanins. These cooler tones are perceived as softer, visually receding, and creating a sense of calm, depth, or elegance within the arrangement. White mums, which lack significant amounts of either pigment, function as a neutral element, providing separation and visual rest between the more saturated colors. This division into warm and cool is the first step in crafting a desired visual effect for your autumn containers or garden beds.
Creating High-Impact Complementary Displays
To achieve a visually stimulating arrangement with maximum contrast and energy, employ complementary color pairings, which involve pairing a warm color with a cool color. The most classic high-impact choice is pairing deep purple or amethyst-toned mums with their direct opposite: vibrant golden or citrine yellow varieties. The contrast between the cool tones and the warm tones creates a dynamic tension that makes both colors appear brighter.
Another effective strategy is combining rich, burnt orange or bronze mums with cool tones such as icy pinks or crisp white varieties. The warmth of the orange is intensified by the cool background, making the arrangement feel bold and contemporary. To ensure the highest visual pop, focus on selecting colors with a high saturation, meaning the colors are pure and intense. This use of opposing color temperatures ensures the display immediately draws the eye.
Designing Soft and Harmonious Arrangements
For displays that feel cohesive and blended, the focus shifts away from contrast toward analogous color schemes, selecting hues that are neighbors on the color wheel. This creates a gradual, harmonious transition that is easier on the eye. A beautiful example is grouping various shades within the purple and pink families, such as a deep burgundy, a medium magenta, and a soft lavender.
Similarly, a warm, analogous scheme might combine butter yellow, apricot, and bronze mums, creating a complex gradient that mimics the natural fading of autumn leaves. Within these harmonious groupings, incorporating neutral-colored mums, like cream or pure white, adds necessary brightness and definition without disrupting the blended effect. The dense green foliage, already present on the plants, also serves as a stabilizing neutral backdrop, adding depth and allowing the subtle shifts in the flower color to be fully appreciated.