Chrysanthemum Rotes Julchen

Chrysanthemum 'Rotes Julchen' is a chrysanthemum that resembles the famous 'Mei Kyo', but is slightly more compact, slightly earlier, and its small pompom flowers fade to a lighter pink. Countless flowers appear from September on this well-groomed bushy plant, forming a large and wonderful bouquet in shades of pink. This hardy perennial blooms for several weeks, until the first frost, without requiring much care. This autumn daisy is hardy and drought-tolerant and easy to grow in any good garden soil, perfect in a cottage garden or a pot. 

Chrysanthemum x rubellum is a herbaceous perennial plant with a woody rhizome, belonging to the Asteraceae family. It is a hybrid obtained by cross-breeding different species from East Asia (Chysanthemum.indicum) and Siberia (C.zawadskii). The cultivar 'Rotes Julchen' was obtained in Germany by Georg Mayer from "Gärtnerei am Nassachtal". It is a seedling of the chrysanthemum 'Julia'. The plant eventually forms a bush 50-55 cm (20-22in) tall and 50 cm (20in) wide, composed of leafy, branched stems which are woody at the base. From early September to late October-early November, this lovely chrysanthemum produces numerous flowers in small double heads, 2-3 cm (1in) in diameter, in small bouquets at the top of the leafy stems. The central disc is a bright dark yellow, on the periphery, thin and very numerous 'petals', change colour as they bloom. When they open, the pompoms are a dark carmine pink, then they gradually change to different shades of pink until they become almost white. The overall effect creates an irresistible bouquet in shades of pink. The leaves are small and resemble miniature oak leaves, triangular to ovate with several lobes and toothed at the edges. They are medium green, and hairy on the underneath. The vegetation is deciduous and dries up in winter; the crown will live for a long time in the garden. 

Chrysanthemums are very useful during a slightly less flowery period of the year, and their colours blend remarkably well in autumn. They can be combined with asters in complementary or matching colours. Their blooming period coincides with shrubby salvias, catmints and gauras. These perennials pair particularly well with grasses such as feather grasses, small miscanthus, Muhlenbergia capillaris and foxtail barley (Hordeum jubatum). They are easily grown in pots to adorn balconies and terraces, and make excellent cut flowers.