The chrysanthemum came to us from China during colonial times. In its home country, it was revered for its medicinal qualities, curing headaches and fevers. It was Japan that elevated this humble “herb” to its status as a revered cut flower, adopting the mum as the crest and seal of the emperor.
Mums are actually just fancy daisies. Over the years they’ve been bred to something completely different than what they first were in China. In the 1950s, what we know today as “heirloom mums” really took off in the U.S., with collectors gathering up all the super interesting varieties from around the world, including Japan, and offering them for sale to the home gardener. In 1954, the National Chrysanthemum Society was established in the U.S. to expand the popularity of fancy, funky mums. Almost assuredly, if your grandma had flower beds in the 50s or 60s, she had some of these unique varieties.
So what happened to mums?? Why are they so damn boring now?! For a while, Philly was actually known as a hub for cut chrysanthemum production, with acres and acres of glass greenhouses that specialized in mums and carnations, among other blooms. Our city’s mums were shipped via train and truck up and down the eastern seaboard to other cities. In the 1970s, cargo jets became a reliable form of international transportation. And with that came the dawn of South American mass flower production and the major flow of imported blooms through ports like Miami.
Imports have changed so much about the flowers we use today. The process of shipping requires a stiff, straight stem, and a bloom that won’t break off or easily bruise. Heirloom mums have curvy stems and delicate blooms. They wouldn’t conform to being shoved in a box. So breeders got to work and took all the quirks out of these old garden favorites.
Heirloom mum varieties started to fade from production in the U.S. as a result. Thankfully, a few die-hards kept their collections alive over the decades so that our local flower farmers can now bring these whimsical beauties back to you! Heirloom mums will be available for sale through PFG for the next few weeks. We know you’ll love them and can’t wait to restore them as a large Philly-grown crop with your help!
Mums are available beginning in late October through Thanksgiving. Sign up for an account now to be ready to shop next fall.
