Chrysanthemum – Clara Curtis

Chrysanthemum, ‘Clara Curtis’

Finding a hardy, carefree Chrysanthemum that grows in western Rocky Mountain gardens seems an impossible dream, but Chrysanthemum, ‘Clara Curtis’ makes it possible. Fortunately ‘Clara Curtis’ descends from an older more vigorous stalk, Korean Chrysanthemum, that does not require the constant attention of pinching back numerous times a year along with an intense regular fertilizing schedule.

This is not the typical, commercially-grown, cellophane-wrapped, potted mum displayed on Memorial Day. While Memorial Day Mums are tempting to the gardener because they are very pretty with their full mounds of colored blooms, they are hot-house annuals and have not been grown for the garden. Rarely will they survive a western winter, but if they do the gardener will face a summer season of constant pinching or will end up with a tall, gangly flop.

On the other hand, Chrysanthemum, ‘Clara Curtis’ is an easy care perennial that will wind its way through a garden if not pinched and brings the freshness of its clean pink daisy blooms for a long season of bloom. There is not a perennial that blooms through ‘Clara’s long season that does not look better with these Clar Curtis growing alongside of it. The blue of Veronica, the rusts of Helenium and the white and pink shades of Tall Garden Phlox are softened and tied together with this beautiful companion at their sides. Chrysanthemum, ‘Mary Stoker’ is a taller, hardy, Korean Mum for western gardens that blooms in a buff-straw color. Planting these hardy carefree perennials in your garden adds to the fall’s relaxed season of gardening.

chrysanthemum clara curtis

More about Nedra Secrist

My native roots are Northern Utah and my native naturalized roots are in Idaho around Bear Lake. In other words, I garden in challenging areas of the high valleys of the Rocky Mountains and feel gardeners need a place they can ask questions to help understand and solve the environmental dilemmas that western gardeners face. As a teacher and gardener, my life has centered on kids and flowers, God’s greatest, most perfect triumphs. I feel blessed that both have been the focus of my life.