Hardy Chrysanthemum 'Sheffield'

On Feb 20, 2014, coriaceous from ROSLINDALE, MA wrote:

One of the most popular of garden chrysanthemums. A pale single salmon-pink, one of the later varieties to bloom. This is said to have been rescued from an old garden in Sheffield, MA, and re-named after the town as the original name was lost. Sometimes sold under the incorrect name 'Clara Curtis.'

Garden chrysanthemums (including the "rubellum hybrids"---a trade name rather than a botanical one) are distinctly different from the "hardy mums" commonly sold in garden centers in the fall for bedding. For garden chrysanthemums to winter over reliably, they need to be planted in the spring. They're heavy feeders and tend to exhaust the soil quickly. Clumps tend to die out in the centers. They also tend to spread rather quickly, though they're easily pulled out where not wanted. ... read moreFor all these reasons, they need frequent spring division with soil renewal, at least every 2-3 years.

A few times, exceptionally early springs have also triggered a spring flush of bloom, as happens routinely with mums in the South. (For the best/most bloom, it's best to prevent the spring flush by pinching back as soon as the buds appear).

Garden chrysanthemums are usually pinched back in late spring, to induce branching, to increase flower bud production, and to reduce height and the need for support. The standard advice here is to stop pinching by July 4th.

On Nov 12, 2012, Gracye from Warrenton, VA wrote:

I bought three plants this Spring. They were barely twigs, finally planted them a month later. They grew, I neglected them, they grew, I ignored them, they grew...
This Fall, they were over three feet tall, and fairly bushy. The huge amount of buds appeared. The beigey-brown color made my heart sink. Hubby noticed them, commented about the color "blending" into the landscape. Heart sank further.
They opened. BREATHTAKING! Soft, dainty, clearly pink, pointy, single flowers. Cut a ton of them for Church. A month later, my Church still has them, good thing cuz Hurricane Sandy ripped the plants up BIG TIME. Cut them almost to the ground, they look like they'll be just fine next year. I want MORE.

On Feb 25, 2011, whitesam9 from Dayton, OH (Zone 5b) wrote:

I planted this last year. It stayed fairly small all Summer so I didn't pinch it back. But it took off growing in early Fall and was absolutely covered in peachy-pink flowers from mid- to late- Fall. Very late bloomer, and the display of flowers that late in the year was just breathtaking.

On Apr 24, 2005, BUFFY690 from Prosperity, SC (Zone 7b) wrote:

I recieved about 5 small pieces of this plant in a trade in 2004 out of the 5, I had 2 pieces to survive, that was the ones that made the flowers in 2004 (NOV.)

Now in 2005 the area the plants take up is fantastic, I have a ton of plants and will probably trade some with the neighbors, I cannot wait to see the Fall show this year, 2005.

I pulled my clump down by two thirds early 2006, and now they are going more strongly than ever. The flow clumps top now reaches about 4 feet on either side of my walkway. They seem to like where they are in the slight afternoon shading of my dogwood tree and tea olive. Very late blooms this year with all our adverse weather.
This is one of the very few things the deer did not erraticate this year. (I am adding lo... read moreads of mum type plant this year as well as loads of marigolds to try and deter them from some of my other treasures)

I would reccommend this plant to anyone in zone 7 who likes a late season flower show in their garden.