Changing leaves and orange pumpkins mean it’s the season for chrysanthemums. Hardy garden mums are classic plants for brightening up front porches and adding extra cheer to fall gardens.

While there’s nothing wrong with classic purple or orange mums, ‘Matchsticks’ chrysanthemums add a unique look thanks to their matchstick-like petals. The flowers burst into bloom as summer flowers fade, adding a fiery touch to gardens and planters.

The plants’ compact form makes them excellent candidates for containers and raised beds, but they also grow well in the garden. I’ll share how to plant and care for ‘Matchsticks’ chrysanthemums so you can enjoy their unique beauty.

What Are ‘Matchsticks’ Chrysanthemums?

Chrysanthemums, commonly called mums, are flowering plants in the aster family. The Chrysanthemum genus contains dozens of species, each with its own growth habits.

The garden mum or hardy mum class of chrysanthemums contains the compact plants you often see decorating fall porches and sitting beside pumpkins in garden centers. These plants are grown for their compact shape and cold tolerance, rather than long stems.

‘Matchsticks’ chrysanthemum is a hybrid variety of garden mum with a low, branching growth habit. This variety is a type of spoon chrysanthemum characterized by slender, curved petals that open near their tips. When you look at the petals from a distance, they resemble small spoons. 

As its name suggests, ‘Matchsticks’ features yellow petals with red “spoons.”

Characteristics

Compact plants are perfect for containers.

‘Matchsticks’ mums have compact, bushy growth habits like many other garden mums. They grow between 18 and 24 inches tall and wide. Their foliage is deep green and lobed, and is slightly aromatic when brushed or crushed.

In the late summer and fall, the plants produce loads of flowers at the ends of their branches. Each flower features a yellow center and multiple layers of spoon-shaped petals that resemble matchsticks. 

Native Area

You won’t find this hybrid in the wild.

Chrysanthemums are native to parts of Eastern Asia and Western Europe. Humans first domesticated the plants over 2,000 years ago, and they’ve been cultivated ever since.

‘Matchsticks’ is a hybrid variety that was created via intentional plant breeding, so you won’t see it growing in the wild.

Planting

Plant in fall before frost hits.

You can plant these chrysanthemums in the spring after the danger of frost has passed, but many gardeners prefer planting mums in the fall. The plants will start blooming soon after and provide a colorful autumnal display.

If you want your plants to survive the winter, planting in the spring is a better option. This earlier planting time allows the plants to develop a deeper root system.

Fall planting works well if you’re planting in a container that you change with the seasons. It’s also a suitable option if you plan to treat your mums as annuals and replant each year.

Like many hybrid chrysanthemums, ‘Matchsticks’ are propagated via tissue culture. You won’t be able to find seeds, so look for plants in garden centers or online.

Planting in Containers

Make sure your container has drainage holes.

This mum’s compact form makes it an excellent choice for container plantings. Adding a few potted mums to porches, patios, and other areas is an easy way to add seasonal cheer and beauty.

Choose a container that’s at least one foot wide and one foot deep. Check the bottom of the container to ensure it has drainage holes.

Fill the bottom few inches with a well-drained soil that’s high in organic matter. A standard potting mix works well. Remove your mum from its container, gently loosen the root ball with your hands, then place it back in the container. Add more potting mix to fill in any empty spaces, then water well.

Planting in the Ground

Leave enough space between plants to prevent overcrowding.

Planting ‘Matchsticks’ chrysanthemums in the ground can work well if you have a sunny location with well-drained soil. Inspect your planting area, and if it feels compacted, loosen the soil with a digging fork or shovel before planting. Adding a few handfuls of compost will provide the plants with a boost of nutrients and beneficial microbes, as well as increase organic matter.

Dig a hole that’s as deep as the plant’s rootball, then gently place the mum in the ground. Backfill with soil, tamp gently, and water well.

If you’re planting your mum with others, leave two feet of space between each plant.

How to Grow

‘Matchsticks’ chrysanthemums have similar care requirements to other garden mums. Although it may look more demanding, it’s as easy to grow as the plain yellow or red mums that pop up everywhere in the fall.

Light

Leave them in a full sun spot for the most flowers.

These flowering plants require full sun. If you plant them in a location that receives less than eight hours of daily light, expect slower growth and fewer flowers.

Water

Don’t overwater these flowers, especially in containers.

‘Matchsticks’ chrysanthemum likes consistent moisture but hates soggy soil. Water slowly and deeply when the top two inches of water feel dry.

Wet foliage is more susceptible to disease, so water near the base of the plant rather than over the leaves. You can use a watering can, hose, or drip irrigation to water the plants.

Soil

Avoid planting in dense, clay soils.

Mums thrive in fertile, well-draining soil that’s rich in organic matter. Avoid planting them in areas with compacted or soggy soil.

You can grow mums if you’re working with heavy clay, but completing a few steps before planting will increase your odds of success. First, loosen the top ten inches of soil with a digging fork or shovel. After you dig a hole for planting, add a few handfuls of compost to the bottom before adding your plant.

Temperature and Humidity

Mulch the soil in fall to protect the roots from temperature drops.

‘Matchsticks’ can tolerate high heat and humidity, but the plants are more susceptible to diseases in humid areas. Long periods of temperatures above 90°F (32°C) can stress the plants, so water extremely well during hot conditions.

These hardy mums can survive the winter outdoors in zones 5-9, although they’ll appreciate a bit of protection in colder climates.

Mulching the base of the plants insulates them from the cold and protects the root systems, and adding frost cloth over the plants limits damage from early frosts.

Fertilizer

Annual mums don’t require any fertilizer.

If you’re planting your mum in the fall and treating it as an annual, you don’t need to apply fertilizer. Garden centers often add fertilizer to potted plants, and these nutrients will carry your plants through the fall.

Adding a small amount of fertilizer can improve the number of blooms, especially if you plant your mum in the late summer. Choose a product that’s low in nitrogen and designed for flowering plants.

Fertilizing in the fall is a no-go if you want the mums to survive the winter. This late dose of nutrients encourages stems to put on new growth that’s susceptible to cold damage.

If your plants survive the winter, add a balanced fertilizer in the spring. This will help support them as they put on new vegetative growth. Switching to a flowering fertilizer in the summer to encourage the production of buds and blooms.

Maintenance

Some light maintenance will extend the flowering season.

‘Matchsticks’ chrysanthemums require the same maintenance as other types of garden mums. They’ll grow fine without any maintenance, but completing a few extra steps increases their health and blooms.

Pinching

Pinch early to promote further flowering.

If you’re starting with small mums, pinching will encourage them to produce new blooms. When the plants are eight inches tall, pinch off the top one to two inches of each stem with your fingers or pruning shears. This type of pinching encourages stems to branch, leading to more flowers.

You can continue to pinch older plants, but it’s best to stop by midsummer. Pinching too late in the year removes developing flower buds and diminishes the plant’s blooms.

Deadheading

Remove old blooms to tidy plants.

Removing old blooms keeps the plants looking tidy and encourages them to produce new flowers. You can pinch off the spent flowers with your fingers or cut them off with pruners.

Preparing for Winter

Trim back stems and mulch after flowering.

If you plan to overwinter your mum, completing a few steps increases the chances that they will survive the winter.

First, trim back the stems so they’re about six inches long. Next, apply a few inches of mulch to help insulate the roots from the cold. Woodchips, straw, and leaves are all suitable materials.

Propagation

‘Matchsticks’ is a hybrid variety, so it won’t grow true from seed. You can use vegetative propagation methods like division and cuttings to create new plants.

Cuttings

Take cuttings to produce exact replicas of these plants.

Taking cuttings is a great way to form new plants. Start by taking cuttings that are three to four inches long in late spring or early summer. Remove the leaves from the bottom half of the cutting, then dip the end in rooting hormone.

Set the bottom inch of the cuttings in containers filled with moist potting soil, perlite, or coco coir. Place the cuttings in a warm location with indirect light, and water to keep the growing media moist. Roots should begin to form in three to four weeks.

Division

Split larger plants into multiple sections to replant.

If you overwinter your mums, you can divide them the following spring. Dig up the entire root system, then use a sharp knife to separate it into sections. Ensure that each segment has a healthy amount of roots.

Replant the divisions immediately after dividing, or pot them into containers where they can grow into larger plants.

Common Problems

‘Matchsticks’ chrysanthemums feature many of the same problems as other garden mums. Here are some common pests and diseases to be aware of.

Aphids

These pests are common in home gardens.

Aphids are tiny, sap-sucking pests that attack a wide variety of plants. A few of these insects aren’t a problem, but they can quickly multiply and weaken plants. Therefore, swift removal of the pests is key to keeping your mums healthy.

If you spot even a few aphids, remove them ASAP. Wiping the pests off with soapy water is a simple removal option, but for larger infestations, consider spraying with insecticidal soap or neem oil.

Leaf Miners

Look for signs in the leaves of your matchsticks chrysanthemum.

Chrysanthemum leafminers (Cromatomyia syngenesiae) are small flies with yellow markings. Adult females feed on plant sap, but the larvae pose the most serious issue. They tunnel into leaves and feed on the interiors, creating distinct channels.

High numbers of larvae can weaken plants. Fortunately, natural predators keep these pest populations in check, so you rarely have to worry about controlling them as long as you have a diverse array of flowering plants growing nearby.

Powdery Mildew

White powdery spots usually indicate powdery mildew.

This fungal disease infects many plants, including ‘Matchsticks’ chrysanthemums. It coats the leaves in a powdery white substance. Unlike many fungal diseases, it thrives in dry yet humid conditions.

Powdery mildew doesn’t directly harm plants, but it decreases their ability to photosynthesize and weakens them. The fungus is difficult to treat, but you can prevent it by avoiding overhead watering and planting at a spacing that allows for good airflow.

Leaf Spot

Various fungal diseases can affect chrysanthemums.

Multiple types of leaf spots can impact chrysanthemums, including septoria leaf spot and cercospora leaf spot. All of these fungi cause spots on the plant’s foliage. The dots start out light in color and eventually turn dark.

Minor leaf spot isn’t a concern, but a serious infection can lead to premature leaf death. You can prevent this issue by encouraging good airflow and avoiding overhead watering.

Frequently Asked Questions