Chrysanthemums signal the start of autumn with their vibrant, dome-shaped blooms. These flowers are a staple in seasonal decorating, providing a dense splash of color that transitions summer displays into fall. Pairing mums with suitable companion plants in containers is highly effective for creating a more dynamic and sustained autumn display. This approach builds visually rich mixed arrangements rather than relying on single-plant pots.
Designing the Arrangement: Thrillers, Fillers, and Spillers
The “Thriller, Filler, Spiller” technique is the most effective method for designing mixed container gardens, ensuring a balanced and professional appearance. This framework dictates the placement and function of each plant type. The Thriller is the vertical focal point, adding height and drama to the arrangement.
Fillers provide the mounding volume and middle layer, creating a full, lush appearance around the central Thriller. Spillers are trailing plants positioned near the container’s edge, softening the hard lines and cascading over the sides for a sense of movement. Due to its dense, mounding habit, a garden mum naturally functions as the primary Filler or a secondary focal point.
For arrangements viewed from all sides, the Thriller should be placed in the center, surrounded by Fillers and Spillers along the periphery. If the arrangement is viewed only from one side, the Thriller is best placed toward the back of the container.
Top Companion Plant Selections
The best companions for mums offer contrasting textures and colors while thriving in cooler weather. For the vertical Thriller element, ornamental grasses like fountain grass or millet provide airy plumes and height. These grasses introduce movement and a fine texture that sharply contrasts with the mum’s solid, dense form.
For textural Fillers, ornamental cabbage and kale are popular choices, offering large, ruffled rosettes in shades of purple, cream, and deep green. Their color often deepens after the first few light frosts, extending the display well into the season. Sedum varieties, such as ‘Autumn Joy,’ also work well, featuring succulent foliage and late-season blooms that harmonize with the mum’s flower shape.
Trailing Spillers soften the container edges with foliage that spills over the rim. Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) offers bright, lime-green foliage that visually pops against the deep autumn colors. English ivy and Vinca are durable, cool-tolerant options that provide a classic, dark green cascade. Ornamental sweet potato vine can also be used, though its tolerance for hard frost is lower than other fall choices.
Ensuring Shared Success: Light, Water, and Temperature
Successfully combining mums and companions requires matching their maintenance needs. Mums are sun-loving plants that require a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight daily to produce a dense bloom set. Companion plants must tolerate this full-sun exposure, otherwise the arrangement will become leggy and produce fewer flowers.
Potted mums have dense root systems, causing containers to dry out quickly in the wind and sun. Companion plants must tolerate consistent, deep watering; the soil should be kept uniformly moist, but never waterlogged. Checking the top inch of soil daily and watering until it drains through the bottom holes ensures proper hydration.
Extending the visual appeal of the container depends on proactive maintenance as temperatures cool. Mums and many companions, such as pansies and ornamental kale, are tolerant of light frost. Removing spent flowers, known as deadheading, encourages the mum to develop new buds and keeps the plant looking tidy. Removing yellowed or damaged companion foliage also maintains the arrangement’s fresh look throughout the autumn season.