How We Choose the Chrysanthemum Stars of the Season 🌸

Every year, as August winds down, I sit down with my towering stack of chrysanthemum notes, a big cup of coffee, and a whole lot of determination. It’s time for one of the hardest jobs we have on the farm: picking which mum varieties will make it into next year’s collection.

It’s not just me staring dreamily at pretty blooms (though there’s a fair bit of that, too). We dig into everything from seasonal performance data, sales numbers, marketing trends, website notes, and the ever-important customer feedback. All of it helps us curate the most sought-after and exciting varieties for our gardening friends near and far.

While we’d love to offer every single mum in our collection, it’s just not practical. We have hundreds of varieties preserved, but we can only grow enough mother stock to release about 80 each year. That means making some tough calls. We rotate in fresh faces, bring back beloved favorites, and follow what’s trending so we’re always offering something special.

When choosing, we look for mums with strong growth habits, quick and healthy root systems, and stellar field performance. Over the years, we’ve even created our own custom ranking system to score each cultivar across multiple factors. None of them hit 100% of the marks (perfection doesn’t exist, in mums or in people), but this process helps us see each variety’s unique strengths and quirks.

And this year’s lineup? It’s a stunner. Think bold, vibrant colors, reliable garden performers, prolific bloomers, and varieties that will wow you for years to come. I’ve spent countless hours combing through spreadsheets, photos, and field notes to give you one of the best-curated mixes we’ve ever released.

Mark your calendars! The big reveal is coming September 1st. Keep an eye on your inbox and head to the website when the lineup drops. We can’t wait to welcome you back for our favorite time of the year… Mumvember!