Ohio Outdoors: Mum’s the word

It’s mum season, also known as fall or autumn. Chrysanthemums can be found gracing walkways and front porches all over Portage County. These fall bloomers are members of the larger family group of flowers called asters. There are more than 25,000 species of asters scattered across the globe. Chrysanthemums make up around 40 of those species, including 100 different cultivars. 

Scientists believe that chrysanthemums originated in China more than 2,500 years ago. They were used as culinary herbs in salads and teas. In fact, mum leaves and petals are edible, although they should not be eaten raw. Flavors range from sweet and tangy to peppery. Be sure not to let dogs or cats eat them: The plants produce a natural pesticide known as pyrethrum, which can affect the nervous system and may cause shaking, vomiting or coughing, among other things. These same functions make it a natural and effective insecticide against mosquitoes, fleas and ticks. It is also the main component of a cream used in treating lice and scabies. 

Mums come in a rainbow of colors and a variety of shapes. They are native to subtropical climates and are considered perennials there. A few cultivars have been developed that can handle our cold Portage County winters. If planted and cared for correctly, they have the ability to come back year after year with winning displays of color and beauty. Once established, these hardy garden mums typically bloom for four to eight weeks. Most mum varieties sold cannot handle frosts and are treated as annuals here in our little corner of the country. They are displayed in pots, with blooms typically lasting two to four weeks. 

Mums have been celebrated for centuries in art and cultures around the world. They are still celebrated today. Every September, nearby Barberton puts on the annual Mum Fest: Each year, on the last full weekend of the month, more than a million mum blooms create spectacular themed displays and draw upward of 30,000 visitors. The festival began in 1991 with a donation of 15,000 mum cuttings from Yoder Brothers Inc. (now Aris Horticulture, Inc.) as a way to celebrate the city’s centennial anniversary. 

So, enjoy the mums this fall in all their splendor, whether it’s in your own yard, on a neighbor’s stoop or part of a spectacular floral display.