The 18 Best Perennial Mums That Come Back Every Year

Perennial “mums” are an excellent choice for gardeners looking for long-lasting color in their flower beds. And mums are perfect for fall planting and fall decorating! So for easy flowers to fill in your autumn garden beds, check out our list of 18 colorful perennial mums that come back year after year.

Keep reading for mum varieties in orange, pink, purple, red, and white. But first, we’ll reveal what mums are and how to grow them as perennials.

What Are Mums?

“Mum” is a nickname for the genus Chrysanthemum, and many different species and cultivars are available. Most mums for sale are hybrids bred for their colorful flowers, long bloom period, and ability to thrive in different climates.

Mums are typically classified as either garden mums or florist mums. Garden mums (also known as hardy mums) are smaller, sturdier, more compact plants typically grown in gardens or containers. Florist mums are less-hardy larger plants for floral arrangements.

Note that mums are toxic to most mammals if swallowed, so don’t let your children or pets put any part of chrysanthemum plants in their mouths.

How to Grow Garden Mums as Perennials

It’s common practice to grow garden mums as annuals in containers for fall interest. Still, many varieties of mums are also fantastic as perennial flowers! If you plant them in garden beds and give them proper care, garden mums should grow again in warmer hardiness zones year after year.

Mums are generally easy to care for and require very little maintenance once they are established. They are drought-tolerant and require well-drained soil. Garden mums will grow in full sun or partial shade, but they will produce the most flowers when grown in full sun. And while most mums bloom in the fall, a few varieties bloom in the spring through fall.

Tips for Growing Mums as Perennials:

• Plant mums in a sunny spot in the ground early in the growing season. Planting mums in early spring for colder climates is best, but early fall plantings are workable too.
• Give your mums well-draining soil, or they will not survive the winter in colder zones.
• Use compost inside and on top of the holes where you plant mums in the ground.
• Give garden mums lots of nitrogen. An easy way to add nitrogen is to use a 10-10-10 balanced fertilizer. The 10-10-10 fertilizer rating stands for 10% each of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

Read on to discover 18 of the best perennial mums for your garden, arranged by color.

Orange Garden Mums

‘Autumn Sun’ Garden Mum

Botanical name: Chrysanthemum x grandiflorum ‘Autumn Sun’

Hardiness zones: 7-9

Sunlight needs: Full sun preferred

Growing and maintenance level: Easy

The ‘Autumn Sun’ variety of mums comes in bright orange blooms with red and yellow accents. The flowers pop up in late summer and continue into fall. It is a compact plant that reaches about 18 inches tall and 36 inches wide.

‘Hailey Orange’ Garden Mum

Botanical name: Chrysanthemum x morifolium ‘Hailey Orange’

Hardiness zones: 5-9

Sunlight needs: Full sun

Growing and maintenance level: Easy

The ‘Hailey Orange’ mum is also a bright orange color with yellow accents. The outer part of the petals is more apricot and turns to a rich burnt orange near the center. The ‘Hailey Orange’ plant blooms from late summer to the first frost and grows to a height and width of about 24-36 inches.

‘Pumpkin Igloo’ Garden Mum

Botanical name: Dendranthema ‘Pumpkin Igloo’

Hardiness zones: 4-9

Sunlight needs: Full sun preferred

Growing and maintenance level: Easy

‘Pumpkin Igloo’ is another orange variety of garden mum with pumpkin-colored blooms. The autumn-colored flowers appear in late summer and continue into fall. As you can imagine, the name ‘Pumpkin Igloo’ makes this mum a popular choice for autumn decorating with pumpkins! This dense and hardy plant matures in size up to 24 inches tall and 36 inches wide.

Pink Garden Mums

‘Clara Curtis’ Garden Mum

Botanical name: Chrysanthemum x rubellum ‘Clara Curtis’

Hardiness zones: 4-9

Sunlight needs: Full sun preferred

Growing and maintenance level: Easy

The ‘Clara Curtis’ is an old-fashioned garden mum in soft pink with the standard yellow chrysanthemum center. This mum blooms from late summer to early fall and grows 18-24 inches tall and wide. If you prefer mums in pastel colors, the ‘Clara Curtis’ is a lovely flower choice.

‘Flamingo Pink’ Garden Mum

Botanical name: Chrysanthemum x grandiflorum ‘Flamingo Pink’

Hardiness zones: 7-9

Sunlight needs: Full sun preferred

Growing and maintenance level: Easy

‘Flamingo Pink’ is a bright garden mum with pretty coral-pink blooms that arrive in late summer and continue into late fall. If you love rich pink flowers in the fall, this is one of the prettiest perennial mums that come back every year. ‘Flamingo Pink’ is a showy plant that reaches up to 24 inches tall and 36 inches wide.

As a fun side note, if you’re into flamingos, check out our post on 10 Incredible Flamingo Facts while you wait for your ‘Flamingo Pink’ mums to grow!

‘Pineapple Pink’ Garden Mum

Botanical name: Chrysanthemum x grandiflorum ‘Zanmuflaminpine’

Hardiness zones: 4-9

Sunlight needs: Full sun preferred

Growing and maintenance level: Easy

Fluffy ‘Pineapple Pink’ chrysanthemum is another beautiful pink garden mum with large blooms and a two-tone yellow center. These pastel mums look almost tropical! Note that the colors of ‘Pineapple Pink’ look different in different climates. In warmer zones, this flower will show more of its creamy hue. But in colder areas, this mum’s petals are pinker. ‘Pineapple Pink’ blooms from late summer through fall and grows 2-3 feet tall and wide.

Purple Garden Mums

‘Avalon Purple’ Garden Mum

Botanical name: Chrysanthemum x morifolium ‘Avalon Purple’

Hardiness zones: 6-11

Sunlight needs: Full sun preferred

Growing and maintenance level: Easy

The ‘Avalon Purple’ petals are lavender at the tips and dark purple at the center. Like blue flowers have a soothing presence, purple flowers also bring calming color to the garden. ‘Avalon Purple’ flowers spring to life in late summer and continue into fall. This bold and bushy plant matures to about 18-24 inches tall and 36 inches wide.

‘Grape Queen’ Garden Mum

Botanical name: Chrysanthemum x morifolium ‘Grape Queen’

Hardiness zones: 5-11

Sunlight needs: Full sun preferred

Growing and maintenance level: Easy

The ‘Grape Queen’ is a purple chrysanthemum called a football mum. ‘Grape Queen’ or ‘Mum Grape Queen’ blooms are huge, exotic, fluffy, and perfect for flower arrangements. Some people might consider these standout plants to be florist mums, but you can plant hardy ‘Grape Queen’ in your garden for fall flowering.

Just like traditional perennial mums, ‘Grape Queen’ needs full sun. And this plant grows to around 3 feet tall and spreads about 16 inches wide.

‘Plumberry Purple’ Garden Mum

Botanical name: Chrysanthemum x grandiflorum ‘Plumberry Purple’

Hardiness zones: 6-9

Sunlight needs: Full sun is best

Growing and maintenance level: Easy

The ‘Plumberry Purple’ is one of the most striking perennial mums that come back every year because of its deep-purple tone. Its purple blooms appear in late summer and last into fall. The ‘Plumberry Purple’ flowers contrast beautifully with their dark green foliage. These gorgeous fall mums grow up to 18 inches tall and 24 inches wide.

Red Garden Mums

‘Bravo’ Garden Mum

Botanical name: Chrysanthemum x morifolium ‘Bravo’

Hardiness zones: 5-9

Sunlight needs: Full sun preferred

Growing and maintenance level: Easy

The bold ‘Bravo’ is a showy garden mum with deep red blooms and also comes with elegant white flowers. ‘Bravo’ blooms from late summer to fall and grows 18-24 inches tall and wide. In addition, these red perennial mums attract pollinators to your garden, including monarch butterflies! However, bees, butterflies, and more pollinators adore most mum colors, so you can’t go wrong with other hues.

‘Radiant Red’ Garden Mum

Botanical name: Chrysanthemum x morifolium ‘Radient Red’

Hardiness zones: 5-9

Sunlight needs: Full sun preferred

Growing and maintenance level: Easy

Similar to the ‘Bravo,’ the ‘Radiant Red’ is a beautiful garden mum with brick-red flowers. This perennial chrysanthemum blooms from late summer to early fall and grows up to 24-36 inches tall and wide. The ‘Radiant Red’ is perfect for adding a pop of deep color to your garden in the fall.

‘Ruby Mound’ Garden Mum

Botanical name: Chrysanthemum x hybridum ‘Ruby Mound’

Hardiness zones: 5-9

Sunlight needs: Full sun preferred

Growing and maintenance level: Easy

The ‘Ruby Mound’ garden mum adds vibrant red flowers to garden beds and containers from early fall through to the first frost. It has ruby-red petals that turn burgundy in the center. This richly-colored chrysanthemum grows up to 24 inches tall and wide.

White Garden Mums

‘Frosty Igloo’ Garden Mum

Botanical name: Dendranthma ‘Frosty Igloo’

Hardiness zones: 3-9

Sunlight needs: Full sun preferred

Growing and maintenance level: Easy

The ‘Frosty Igloo’ is a unique double-bloom white chrysanthemum with a small, round shape. This extra-fluffy mum blooms from late summer to early fall and grows 20-24 inches tall and wide. ‘Frosty Igloo’ perennial mums look stunning in all-white gardens or paired with late-blooming plants of any shade. We say pretty white flowers are always in season!

‘Moonglow White’ Garden Mum

Botanical name: Chrysanthemum x grandiflorum ‘Moonglow White’

Hardiness zones: 6-9

Sunlight needs: Full sun preferred

Growing and maintenance level: Easy

The ‘Moonglow White’ has ivory white blooms that burst with flowers in late summer and last through fall. It is a compact rounded plant that grows up to 24 inches tall and 36 inches wide. The ‘Moonglow White’ mum gives fall garden beds some enchanting white flower elegance.

‘Painted Daisy’ Garden Mum

Botanical name: Chrysanthemum carinatum ‘Painted Daisy’

Hardiness zones: 2-10

Sunlight needs: Full sun preferred

Growing and maintenance level: Easy

The ‘Painted Daisy’ is mainly a white chrysanthemum but also a tri-color beauty. This old-fashioned garden mum has unique white blooms with yellow and lavender centers. ‘Painted Daisy’ flowers bloom in late summer, last through fall, and grow up to 18 inches tall and 24 inches wide.

Yellow Garden Mums

‘Buttercup Yellow’ Garden Mum

Botanical name: Chrysanthemum x morifolium ‘Buttercup Yellow’

Hardiness zones: 6-11

Sunlight needs: Full sun preferred

Growing and maintenance level: Easy

The ‘Buttercup Yellow’ is a cheerful all-yellow garden mum that brightens any fall landscape with its many sunny blooms. These beautiful perennial mums that come back every year appear in late summer and last through late fall. The ‘Buttercup Yellow’ mum grows 2-3 feet tall and wide.

‘Gigi Gold’ Garden Mum

Botanical name: Chrysanthemum x morifolium ‘Gigi Gold’

Hardiness zones: 6-11

Sunlight needs: Full sun preferred

Growing and maintenance level: Easy

Truly golden ‘Gigi Gold’ garden mums have large, two-tone yellow blooms that appear in late summer and continue into late fall. These sunny chrysanthemums with dense flowers grow up to 24 inches tall and 36 inches wide.

‘Fireglow Bronze’ Garden Mum

Botanical name: Chrysanthemum x hybridum ‘Fireglow Bronze’

Hardiness zones: 6-11

Sunlight needs: Full sun preferred

Growing and maintenance level: Easy

The ‘Fireglow Bronze’ is a stunning garden mum with large, golden-yellow petals with light bronze centers. This perennial mum blooms in the fall and grows 24-36 inches tall and wide. The ‘Fireglow Bronze’ variety is ideal for fall interest garden beds and containers with its traditional autumn color.

Summary of 18 Best Perennial Mums That Come Back Every Year

Here’s a recap of the perennial mums that we took a close look at, by color:

Perennial Mums Are Perfect for Fall Flowering Every Year

Perennial mums are an excellent choice for gardeners who want long-lasting color in their gardens every late summer to fall. They provide a mass of beautiful blooms on bushy foliage and require very little maintenance. So if you’re looking for easy plants to grow for autumn flowering, give perennial mums that come back every year a permanent home in your garden beds!

Up Next:

Is Coleus a Perennial or an Annual?

Perennial vs. Annual Plants

6 Perennial Flowers for Pots

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/Alexander Gabriel