Chrysanthemums are enjoying great popularity in the UK.  Easy to grow and with a good vase life they are a favourite for the autumn cut flower garden.

Chrysanthemums originate in China, where they had been grown for about 2,500 years. Pierre Louis Blancard brought them to Europe in 1789.

Chrysanthemum display from the Gardener's World Live show 2009

Today more than 650 varieties are available from the large headed pom pom types to the popular spray Chrysanthemums used by florists. 77 of the varieties hold the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.

The spray varieties are easy to grow, very hardy and provide a welcome splash of colour in the late summer and autumn border, many continue blooming right up to Christmas.

Spray Chrysanthemums produce multiple flowers of smaller blooms that are quite resitant to our wet and windy weather.

The British climate lends itself well to the cultivation of Chrysanthemums and some of the larger retailers such as Marks and Spencer in their Best of British range are now offering stunning flowers produced by Chrysanthemums Direct, a British grower based in Cheshire, a gold medallist at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show

You may also be interested in:

• Peonies as cut flowers
• Rich Autumn Colours
• Good News for British Flowers
• Mistletoe
• The Real Cut Flower Company