Chrysanthemum indicum Cedie Mason

Chrysanthemum (x) indicum 'Cedie Mason', better known as the Garden Chrysanthemum, is a true ode to autumn. It is a variety that offers intense autumn flowering of deep red daisies, enhanced by a bright yellow rounded centre from September onwards. This garden chrysanthemum is a bushy perennial forming a dense and rounded clump, reaching a height of 1m (3ft), perfect for bringing warmth to the garden until winter arrives. It is a hardy plant that can be easily grown in normal, not too heavy, well-drained soil that remains moist in summer. Planted in a bed in front of deciduous trees, it benefits from finding light through the increasingly sparse tree canopies, while reminding us of the flamboyant hues of autumn foliage.

The 'Cedie Mason' Garden Chrysanthemum belongs to the Asteraceae family and is a cousin of daisies and sunflowers. It is a cultivar derived from Chrysanthemum indicum, a plant native to East Asia, cultivated since antiquity in China, Japan and Korea, which is the origin of florist chrysanthemums.

This variety 'Cedie Mason' quickly forms a clump with a rounded habit, consisting of woody-based, leafy and branched stems, reaching about 1m (3ft) in height and 50cm (20in) in width. Flowering lasts from September to November depending on the climate, and spreads over several weeks. The plant is covered with numerous semi-double daisy-like flowers, burgundy with a bright yellow centre. The flowers are heads of 3-4cm (1-2in) in diameter, grouped in clusters called corymbs at the end of the branched stems. The leaves are borne on a petiole 1-2cm (1in) long. The lamina is oval to elliptical oval, measuring from 3 to 7cm (1 to 3in) in length and 4cm (2in) in width, pubescent, pinnate, more or less lobed, with a truncate base. The root system of this plant is a shallow rhizome. Its above-ground growth dries out in winter and regrows in spring.  

Garden chrysanthemums offer immense worth during a slightly less flowery time of the year, and blend remarkably well with autumn colours. They can be combined with asters in complementary colours. Their flowering can be lightened by cosmos, Japanese anemones, gauras, shrubby salvias, magellan fuchsias, cape lilies, etc. They are particularly interesting when combined with grasses: Carex, Stipa and Pennisetum. Chrysanthemums are also good cut flowers, very long-lasting in a vase. Consider using the taller varieties to create autumn beds at the foot of deciduous bushes that reflect their yellow, red, and orange autumn foliage.

The aerial parts of Chrysanthemum indicum (flowers, leaves, and stems) are part of the Chinese pharmacopoeia. They are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of dizziness, symptoms of hypertension, and several infectious diseases.