I always encourage gardeners to experiment with more plants, not fewer. You may decide mums or marigolds are best, or you’ll choose both of them! Why not, right? 

There are a few reasons why you’d want one over the other. Perhaps you’re planting a fall garden and have early frosts, or you lack ice and snow during winter. Your garden’s conditions dictate which plants work best. 

Additionally, what you think is beautiful may differ from what the next gardener thinks! Marigolds and mums have lots of varieties to choose from, and each type has different flower colors, shapes, sizes, and fragrances.

So, the question remains—are mums or marigolds best for your garden?

Naughty Marietta

Naughty Marietta French Marigold Seeds

Crackerjack African Marigold Seeds

Gem Blend Signet

Gem Blend Signet Marigold Seeds

Which Should You Plant?

Every garden is different from the next, and what is right for yours differs from what’s best for your neighbor or friend. Whether to choose marigolds or mums depends on the climate, the current season, your growing goals, and the availability of the two plants. 

Your Climate

Warm regions favor plants that reseed themselves efficiently.

The weather dictates everything! Rain, sunshine, cold, and heat create various conditions that favor certain plants over others. Mums like the cold, while marigolds like the heat. 

Growers in northern climates have short growing seasons. They may need to grow marigolds from seeds to have ready seedlings. Some marigold varieties are perennial, though most are long-lived annuals in frost-free regions. They’ll bloom for longer periods in gardens with long summers than anywhere else. 

Marigold plants are also efficient reseeders. They produce dozens of viable seeds that you may save over winter for planting in spring. 

In warmer climates, however, chrysanthemums struggle to bloom. Their perennial nature allows them to grow well through cool autumns and springs. They generally thrive in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 9, and they work well as winter annuals in warm regions. 

The Current Season

Autumn air brings chrysanthemums into full color.

It also depends on the current season! Spring is a great time to think about planting both marigolds and mums. Marigold flowers will begin blooming shortly after planting in summer, while mums flower in the fall. Mums need lots of time to establish themselves before frosty weather arrives.

Most hardy mum plants are available in the fall when it’s too late for planting. These container specimens are perfect for porch stoops and balconies, though they’re not great for planting. Hardy perennial mums need at least two months of growing before the first average frost date. 

Marigolds struggle in autumn; they prefer summer’s heat and sunshine. With warmth and light, marigold flowers will continue appearing as long as you deadhead them. They’ll fill the yard with bright blooms and aromatic foliage. 

In summary, it’s best to grow marigold plants in the summer and chrysanthemums in autumn. You may grow both in northern states, so long as you start marigold seeds ahead of time for transplanting after the last frost date. 

Your Growing Goals

Bright flowers attract pollinators and fend off pests.

When thinking about marigolds vs. mums, maybe you prefer one over the other! Which to choose is entirely up to you. Marigolds are great for veggie plots, as they deter pests and attract pollinators. Their bright red, orange, yellow, and white hues fill the garden with color and fragrance.

Marigold plants are also superb for cut flower bouquets and floral arrangements. They rebloom when you deadhead them, and bushy varieties tend to produce dozens of blossoms throughout the growing season. You can pinch them to make them bushy, or let them flourish into gangly specimens.

Chrysanthemums have a wide range of habits, too. Florist’s mums grow gigantic mum blooms on tall stalks, and they’re showstoppers in flower gardens. These tend not to be as hardy as perennial types, though, and they often require overwintering indoors. 

If you’re looking for fall flowers, chrysanthemums are the choice for you. They erupt into bloom when leaves change colors, providing fall color on the ground while trees fill the sky with rich hues. Their divided green leaves offer a neutral background for other perennials during the spring and summer. 

Popular Varieties

Fleur de Lis blooms brighten fall corners gracefully.

Plant breeders are consistently producing new marigold and mum varieties each year. Find hybrids with multi-color blooms, dwarf habits, and stunning hues. Mum flowers tend to have muted colors that look good in the fall, while marigold flowers are cheery and bright for the summer yard.

My favorite marigold is ‘Naughty Marietta.’ It’s a French variety that has yellow and red petals with orange centers. The mid-sized flowers attract butterflies and repel soil nematodes, making the plant perfect for growing near tomatoes and peppers.

French varieties tend to be mid-sized, while African ones are large, and signet types are small. The bloom sizes reflect the growing habits, as African blooms are giant, whereas French and signet types are on the smaller side.

Mums similarly have a wealth of varieties to choose from. Opt for hardy, perennial specimens that’ll survive your region’s winters. Choose a mum based on its flower shape and color. There are double and single-petalled types, and unique ones like spider varieties! Try ‘Fleur de Lis.’ It has pink, frilly blooms that look like spiders. 

Key Takeaways

• Both mums and marigolds are excellent throughout the U.S. as annuals.
• Marigolds perform better in warm regions, while mums excel in cold winters. 
• Choose marigolds for the summer and mums for the fall.
• Save seeds of marigolds to continue growing them, and take cuttings of perennial mums to propagate the plants. 
• Perennial mums overwinter in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 9.