Modern Mums: Reimagining Colour for Fall Outdoor Decor

Today, anyone can get their hands on hardy mums, and they seem to be for sale everywhere this time of year, from nurseries to grocery stores to big-box department stores. New varieties are constantly being bred for performance and colour. These new varieties aren’t your grandmother’s mums!

Years ago, I attended the California Spring Trials. AKA, a fashion show of the newest plant varieties hitting the market.

When there, I remember a conversation about petunia fatigue, and how we jokingly called the petunia portion the pink petunia tour. Just how many times can you go and see a pink petunia before they all start to blend together?

But what you don’t see is everything the breeders are working on in the background. Perhaps this new variety is resistant to a specific disease or blooms later in the season. One might be a best seller, one might be a new variety, and the other may be a different breeder.

The same could very much be said about mum flowers. Yes, they’re not the most exciting flower to get me jumping out of bed and into the garden, but they’re popular for a reason: the burst of fall colour.

By fall, our gardens have begun to go to seed and die back from the shorter days and cooler nights. Mums offer the chance to bring back some colour and cheer while we usher in fall and the cooler months.

I treat them as a beautiful fall annual to brighten up my porch or deck when I feel a little blue that the gardening season is coming to an end.

Luckily, it’s easy to get your hands on some beautiful hardy mums. And crayon-box bright colours are no longer the only options.

Deeper hues of bronze, copper, rust, peach, wine, and chocolate are a modern colour palette that can update your front porch. The newest varieties of modern mums not only look beautiful, but they are easy to care for in the garden.

• The History of Chrysanthemums
• The New Colour Palette of Mums
• White
• Orange
• Rich Red
• Purple
• Pink
• Edible Mums
• More Fall Gardening Inspiration

The History of Chrysanthemums

Mums have a long history of being treasured flowers. In 8th century Japan, the emperor instituted the chrysanthemum as his royal crest symbol, which still appears on some Japanese coins today. Back in 15th century China, mums were such a beloved plant that only members of the royal family were permitted to grow them.

Chrysanthemums were brought to Europe in the seventeenth century and took another hundred years to reach North America, where they came to symbolize honesty and long life. In the Victorian era, when the symbolic meaning or “language” of flowers became a very popular form of expression, red mums were a favourite token used to represent romantic love.

Today, chrysanthemums are still a highly sought-after flower. They’ve come to represent fall and the change of seasons and are a must-have for many home gardens this time of year.

The New Colour Palette of Mums

Decorating with hardy mums is all about adding a pop of colour to your garden when other plants have begun to die back. Mums are often paired with pumpkins and gourds in bright oranges and yellows. This year, why not ditch the candy-corn colour palette for something more subdued?

White

White is both classic and modern. Monochrome displays are stunning in any hue, but white makes for something that is both dramatic and simple all at once. Pair white mums with white pumpkins and some fallen leaves for a timeless fall vignette.

Here are some white varieties I’m loving as of late:

• Touchdown White – a creamier colour that offers a vintage look.
• Fair White – a perfect bright white.
• Koko White – a brand new variety; these blooms are small, fluffy, and cream.
• Bridal White – a beautiful white, with a pleasant round, classic mum shape.

Orange

For a display that celebrates traditional fall orange with a modern twist, say “see ya” to pumpkin orange and look for the more muted tones of rust, copper, and peach. Rusty orange pairs well with neutral colors, deep greens, and bright reds.

Holly, our Content Manager here at Garden Therapy, grows a beautiful shade of peach mums called ‘Jacqueline Peach Fusion’ at her flower farm. They have a pinky-peach outside and a light orange center, and have quickly become a favourite at the farm stand. They begin very pink, lightening as the flowers mature.

Here are some other standout varieties in the orange hue:

• Lucy Bronze Bicolor – a firework-like orange mum with pops of pink and red.
• Fonti Coral – a perfect light coral shade for those who love pastel hues.
• Aduro Orange – loads of moody colour with dark centers and light coppery petals.
• Zuma Orange – a deep rusty orange with an ombre appearance.

Rich Red

If you like to have a traditional colour for your fall outdoor decor, then rich red would be a great update from the poppy-red mums you usually see. These deep red pompons take on rich purple and black hues, depending on the light and variety.

They look great with bright colours like lime green and contrasting black, so look for partner plants with attractive foliage. And skip the pumpkins for something much more refined—these rich reds are most at home in a display that exudes elegance.

Here are some red mum varieties to check out:

• Vega Red – another favourite of Holly’s that she grows on her flower farm, offering a deep blood red.
• Mumma Mia Red – a dark red mum with a unique shape, similar to star-like points.
• Rihanna Red – a classic dark red but with sunny yellow centers for a more daisy-like appearance.
• Fonti Red – part red, part pink; this mum reminds me of raspberry sorbet.

Purple

When these pale lavender mums burst into bloom, they almost glow. Lavender certainly isn’t a new hue, but how you pair it could be. Imagine a lavender mum paired with other cool-toned plants like beautyberry branches and blue pumpkins. Now that’s a stunning colour palette you don’t expect in fall!

Check out some of these purple mum varieties:

• Vigorelli Purple – reminds me of a spring berry, with dark raspberry centers and light petals.
• Pomona Violet – for anyone who loves a neon hue, these mums are so bright and unexpected in a fall garden.
• Milkshake Cherry Purple – a delightful plum purple that would transition well from a summer garden to spooky Halloween themes.
• Fleur de Lis – an heirloom variety (technically the opposite of modern), it’s so rare to see such a fun and unique mum variety. It has dark petals and thin, spindly petals that appear like a firework.

Pink

Pink mums can range from pretty pastels to deep purple and red hues. The fluffy, light pink mums pair perfectly with pink and white pumpkins, creating a display that feels neutral in a fresh, new way. I like to balance the prettiness of pink mums with the rustic texture of straw and other fall elements in the garden.

• KoKo Pink – small, fluffy blooms in a magenta shade.
• GiGi Dark Pink – big flamingo pink blooms, layered with rounded petals.
• Soul Sister Dark Pink – for someone who wants tons of bright pink colour, this variety is for you.
• Axios Light Pink – the perfect shade of pink for ballerinas, with a hint of ombre.

Edible Mums

Did you know that chrysanthemum petals are edible? They range greatly in flavour and have been reported to taste tangy, bitter, or peppery depending on the variety. Only the petals are edible; pluck them off the bitter flower heart and compost the leaves.

Oh, and be sure to only eat flowers that are organically grown. Commercially grown flowers can be loaded with pesticides, growth inhibitors, and other chemicals you do not want to eat. You can read more about how to plant and grow hardy mums in your garden in the Essential Guide to Caring for Hardy Mums.

More Fall Gardening Inspiration

• Keep Your Fall Flowers Blooming All Season with this Essential Care Guide to Hardy Mums
• Fall Container Care and Maintenance + DIY Container Ideas
• Grow These Fall Perennials for Brilliant Autumn Color!
• Beyond Tulips: 12 Extraordinary Spring-Flowering Bulbs to Plant in Fall