Founding florist
Tulipanna
Bondi NSW · est. 1992
A Bondi Road florist since 1992, with seasonal bouquets, arrangements, roses and potted orchids, and a weekly note on what's at market.
Seasonal cut flowerChrysanthemum morifolium
Chrysanthemums: when they're in season in Australia
Chrysanthemums are available all year in Australia, from local growers. Outside those months most stems are imported, usually from Kenya, Colombia, Ecuador, Malaysia and China.Being confirmed
- Right now
- In season in September
- Season
- all year
- Vase life
- 10 to 20 days
Season by state
Chrysanthemums flower naturally in autumn and spring, but commercial growers control day length to crop them all year, so they are at market in every month. They are the traditional Mother's Day flower in Australia, and growers such as one at Paper Beach in northern Tasmania plant months ahead to harvest tens of thousands of extra bunches for that one weekend in May. Spray types carry several small flowers per stem, while disbuds carry one big bloom. Vase life is excellent.
Where to buy chrysanthemums
Affordable most of the year, with prices and demand peaking the week before Mother's Day. Being confirmed
How to choose good chrysanthemums
Check the leaves first. Chrysanthemum foliage wilts and yellows before the flowers show their age, so green, upright leaves are the best sign of a fresh bunch. Turn a disbud over and look at the outer petals, which should be firm, not browning or drooping. The stems should be thick and woody and clean at the cut, not slimy. On daisy-style sprays, a centre heavy with pollen means the flower is further along. One bunch of spray chrysanthemums fills a medium vase. For the best value, buy outside the week before Mother's Day, when demand pushes prices up.
Grown here or imported?
Chrysanthemums are not native to Australia, but they're grown here commercially.
Where they're grown
Chrysanthemums are grown in Australia under glass and plastic, where growers use blackout screens and lights to control day length and trigger flowering on schedule. That is what makes them a year-round crop. Much of the local supply comes from glasshouse growers on the outskirts of Melbourne and other capitals, run as specialist commercial businesses. Being confirmed Tasmania has growers too, including a big operation at Paper Beach on the Tamar that plants months ahead for Mother's Day. Chrysanthemums are also one of the largest import lines, while garden plants still flower naturally in autumn as the days shorten.
Out of season, florists bring in imported stems, mostly from Kenya, Colombia, Ecuador, Malaysia, China. Ask your florist which you're buying: local stems are usually fresher and have travelled less.Being confirmed
Colours, varieties and care
Colours
- white
- cream
- yellow
- gold
- peach
- pink
- red
- burgundy
- lilac
- green
Varieties to ask for
- Spray
- Disbud
- Button (Santini)
- Spider
Vase life
10 to 20 days Being confirmed
Making them last
- Choose spray stems with at least five flowers open, or disbuds with a tight tuft of centre petals
- Strip all leaves below the waterline, as they foul the water quickly
- Recut stems and use flower food
- Change the water every few days
- Keep cool and they will last two to three weeks
Using them at home
In autumn, chrysanthemums sit well with dahlias, lisianthus and tuberose, and all year with roses, carnations and eucalyptus. Spider and large disbud types have enough presence for a vase of their own, while buttons are best massed in a low bowl or used short in a posy. Pick a straight-sided vase so the woody stems stand upright. Disbuds keep unfurling for days, curling outward from a tight centre, and a vase often lasts long enough to rearrange once. Chrysanthemums can be air-dried, though they lose some colour.
Meaning and birth month
Traditionally a symbol of joy and optimism, and in Australia the Mother's Day flower.
Chrysanthemums are a traditional birth flower for November.
Where to see them growing
Pure Maiden Farm
Maiden Gully
Open: September to MayBeing confirmed
Sydney Flower Market
Flemington
Best: all yearBeing confirmed
Melbourne Market flower market (National Flower Centre)
Epping
Best: all yearBeing confirmed
Questions people ask
When are chrysanthemums in season in Australia?
Chrysanthemums are available all year because growers control light to make them flower on demand. Their natural seasons are autumn and spring, and supply peaks for Mother's Day in May.
Why are chrysanthemums the Mother's Day flower in Australia?
Mother's Day falls in autumn, when chrysanthemums naturally flower, and the name shortens to "mum". Growers plant months ahead so the biggest harvest lands in the week before Mother's Day.
How long do chrysanthemums last?
Ten to twenty days, making them one of the longest-lasting cut flowers. Strip the lower leaves, which rot quickly in water, and change the water every few days.
Are chrysanthemums poisonous to cats?
Yes. Animal Emergency Service, an Australian emergency vet group, rates chrysanthemums as highly toxic to cats and dogs, with vomiting, diarrhoea and loss of appetite the usual signs. The plants contain pyrethrins, natural insecticides that cats are especially sensitive to. Keep them away from cats that chew plants and call your vet if any is eaten.
Can you grow chrysanthemums in Brisbane?
Yes. Chrysanthemums grow across most of Australia, including Brisbane, in a sunny spot with good drainage. Plant in spring, pinch out the tips in early summer for a bushier plant, and they will flower naturally in autumn as the days shorten. Cut them back once flowering finishes.
Related flowers
All flowers
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Where this season information comes from
- koch.com.au/blog/the-essential-guide-to-the-chrysanthemum
- abc.net.au/news/rural/2023-05-13/chrysanthemum-growers-harvesting-mothers-day-blooms/102317678
- katehillflowers.com.au/blogs/bloom-journal/flowers-in-season-melbourne
- livingflowersmelbourne.com.au/blogs/news/seasonal-flowers-by-month-in-australia