Chrysanthemum indicum Nebelrose

Chrysanthemum x indicum Nebelrose delights us with its magnificent double flowers of a silvery pink colour with pearly reflections, which give it a lot of grace and elegance. It blooms in October and November if the weather permits, in warm and sheltered locations. Hardy and long-lasting, easy to cultivate, this plant, also known as autumn daisy, is perfect in flowerbeds or in a pot on a terrace. It quickly forms a beautiful clump, over 1m (3ft) tall, that flowers abundantly for several weeks. It is a hardy plant that can be easily grown in open ground in normal, not too heavy, well-drained soil that stays moist in summer.

The Garden Chrysanthemum is an herbaceous perennial plant with a woody rhizomatous base, belonging to the Asteraceae family. It is a cousin of daisies and sunflowers. Nebelrose is a cultivar derived from Chrysanthemum indicum, a plant native to East Asia, cultivated since ancient times in China, Japan, and Korea, which is the origin of florist chrysanthemums. From spring onwards, it forms a bush 110 cm (43in) tall and 50 to 60 cm (20 to 24in) wide, composed of branched leafy stems, woody at the base. Its growth is quite rapid. Flowering occurs in October and also in November depending on the climate. The plant produces numerous flowers gathered in capitula, daisy-like, double, reaching 4 cm (2in) in diameter, grouped in small bouquets at the top of the leafy stems. The ligules, thin and curled, are a soft silvery pink colour. The leaves are triangular-ovate, roughly divided into 5 lobes and measure up to 5 cm (2in) in length. They have toothed edges, dark green and slightly dull, with villous undersides. The above-ground vegetation dries out in winter and regrows in spring. Its very long-lasting stump will live for a long time in the garden.

Garden chrysanthemums offer immense worth at a time of year when flowers are less abundant, and blend remarkably well with autumn tones. They can be associated with asters, in complementary colours. Their flowering is lightened by the blooms of cosmos, Japanese anemones, gauras, shrubby salvias, hardy fuchsias, or kaffir lilies. They are particularly interesting when associated with grasses: Carex, Stipa, and Pennisetum. Chrysanthemums also make great cut flowers, very long-lasting in a vase. Consider using taller varieties to create autumn flowerbeds at the base of deciduous shrubs, to reflect their yellow, red, and orange autumn foliage.