A GGW Contest: Chrysanthemums vs. Asters

By Fran Sorin – Posted in: Miscellaneous

I know, I know. I should leave ‘well enough’ alone. I was planning to. Last month I actually took some photos of both asters and chrysanthemums being sold at my local grocery store at 2 for $10.  I was going to send out a tongue in cheek reminder that you have a choice about which specimens you plan on using in your garden.  I was going to give asters a vote of confidence: I decided not to.

But today on my way home from doing some errands, I changed my mind. I couldn’t help but to notice a plethora of chrysanthemums in practically every yard. There seemed to be more of them than all of the McCain/Palin, Obama/Biden signs combined! And I couldn’t resist bringing up this subject one more time!

 As alot of you know from last year’s posts on this subject, https://gardeninggonewild.com/?p=220 and https://gardeninggonewild.com/?p=254, along with Nan’s post on chrysanthemums, https://gardeninggonewild.com/?p=324, I am a true lover of asters for the fall garden and think that they are a resilient, stand out perennial. I don’t have a tender place in my heart for chrysanthemums. 

But rather than waxing philosophically this year about asters, we’re offering you an opportunity to send in links with photos of your fall garden planted with either chrysanthemums or asters (or both).

Over the next couple of weeks, some of us GGW bloggers will confer and come up with a winner. As well, any of you, after looking at other bloggers’ photos, are welcome to write in and let us know who you think has come up with the most beautiful plantings for either of these 2 specimens. All opinions will be taken into consideration.

The winner will get bragging rights and a ‘shout out’ from us. And may even turn some of us aster diehards into lovers of chrysanthemums!!

Fran Sorin

Fran Sorin

Fran is the author of the highly-acclaimed book, Digging Deep: Unearthing Your Creative Roots Through Gardening, which Andrew Weil, M.D., recommends as "a profound and inspiring book."  

A graduate of the University of Chicago with Honors in Psychology, she is also a gardening and creativity expert, coach, inspirational speaker, CBS radio news gardening correspondent, and Huffington Post Contributor.

Learn more about Fran and get free resources that will help you improve your life at www.fransorin.com.

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carolyngail October 6, 2008, 10:44 pm

Oh, good grief, there’s room for both ! The mistake most gardeners make, in my humble opinion, is that they don’t plant hardy mums that return every year and when Fall comes around they buy the annual kind and just plunk them in the garden, which makes them look so staged.

One word : ‘Clare Curtis ‘ , a hardy mum that looks like a daisy , very hardy, starts blooming early – August and stays in bloom until the very end of the season. Another word : Korean mum, very reliable , graces the garden each year with their daisy-like appearance.

Asters – love the color, don’t like the really tall ones that flop over. I have found some lower growing deep purple ones that come back each year.

Carolyngail-
Good input. And a great reminder that it doesn’t have to be either/or if you carefully select specimens.
Do you have any pictures of ‘Clare Curtis’ to send onto us?? Fran

Sylvia October 7, 2008, 5:07 am

I do agree with Carolyngail there are room for both. Michaelmas daisies (Asters) are much more common garden plant than Chrysanthemums here in the UK. I remember my Grandmother growing some really lovely hardy Chrysanthemums (I wish I had got some of these now), usually they are grown in a greenhouse for picking. I have some Michaelmas daisies in the garden – I do love the blue ones.

Best wishes Sylvia (England)

Sylvia-
Always appreciate your input. Am not surprised that asters are more common in the UK than chrysanthemums but it’s good to hear it from one who lives there! Fran

Lisa at Greenbow October 7, 2008, 7:30 am

I only have two of each. I like them both too.
Lisa-
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!! Fran

David in VT October 7, 2008, 4:20 pm

I have two to share. One of asters:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37103033@N00/2892719497/in/set-72157607186229336/

And my favorite fall-bloomer, a dendranthemum called Bolero:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37103033@N00/2892719761/in/set-72157607186229336/

David-
Thanks for joining in. Believe it or not, I do love the Bolero Chrysanthemum!! Fran

Benjamin October 7, 2008, 4:21 pm

I’m with you on asters, but as soon as I dig them in (often in early fall when the nurseries have them on sale and they’re in bloom, I’m gullible this way) they die back and just start regreening when they freeze. If I’m lucky a few come back in the spring. I like them for the punch of sutble color, but also because the bees love them.

Benjamin-
I’m curious as to why you only have a few that come back in the spring, rather than the majority of them. Your use of the words ‘subtle’ and ‘punch of color’ describes perfectly what asters add to the fall garden. Fran

Angela (Cottage Magpie) October 8, 2008, 3:08 am

I’m definitely an aster fan. I am definitely not a mum fan. Unfortunately my asters are newly planted, and not very lush and beautiful. I really stretched them so I think I only have one bloom! But I’ll enjoy seeing what others have to offer.
~Angela 🙂

Angela-
Another aster fan….whoopee! Great that you planted new ones this year…..give ’em time….they’ll take off beautifully! fran

Mr. McGregor's Daughter October 8, 2008, 12:22 pm

I vote for Asters (and Syphyotrichums, & Eurybias). I have a mum. It comes back every year and is the very last plant in the garden to start blooming. That’s why I still have it. Here’s my support for the Asters, although I intend to post closeups of some for Bloom day: http://tinyurl.com/4yx5de

Mr. McGregor’s Daughter—
Thanks for the link and great photos! Fran

Cameron (Defining Your Home Garden) October 8, 2008, 4:02 pm

IF I could have either, it would be asters. Once upon a time, I planted asters but the bunnies ate them. I tried again this fall, and the bunnies ate them. I have two mums in pots jammed between a few purple petunias. When it comes to mums and asters, I shall have to be satisified to garden vicariously through the garden photos of others! 🙂 Cameron

Cameron-
Have you tried any of the organic remedies…red pepper or garlic oil…to keep the bunnies away? Fran

Kathy from Cold Climate Gardening October 11, 2008, 7:12 pm

I don’t like the forced, potted chrysanthemums. As others have said, they don’t look natural to me. I haven’t come across many chrysanthemums in the spring, which is when I would plant them if I wanted them to winter over, so the only chrysanthemum I have is a passalong plant that looks great with ‘Lady in Black’ aster and colchicums. Photo here. I have a lot more asters because they show up on their own (though I admit ‘Lady in Black’ didn’t). They seem to complement my old rural home better.

Kathy,
Thanks for offering your thoughts. You seemed to have done the impossible: blending asters with a chrysanthemum in a pleasing combination, along with the colchiums. Am loving it! Fran

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