Garden Highlights

Don't miss our Garden Highlights, updated every Thursday featuring plants for their outstanding ornamental characteristics. Discover everything from flowers to fruit, buds, bark and more. You can search for specific plants using the Plant Finder

Featured: Sept. 18-24

Common Name: Garden Mums
Scientific Name: Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum, commonly known as mums or garden mums, bloom in the late summer and early fall, and are popular choices for fall planters and seasonal displays. First cultivated in China, mums were introduced to the Western world during the 17th century. While they can be treated like an annual — and big pots of them abound at retailers this time of year — the University of Minnesota has developed garden mums that are hardy enough to survive in Minnesota gardens. The University's mum breeding program, which began in the 1920s, is one of the oldest public sector breeding programs in the world and the only one in North America. Field testing and research done by the University have found that garden mums are more likely to survive our harsh winters if the above-ground dead plant stems are not removed during the fall. Learn more about the University's cold hardy mum offerings.

At the Arboretum, you’ll find a large grouping of these cold hardy mums across from the dahlia beds and near the Lily Collection and spread throughout different locations such as the Chinese Garden and Elizabeth Slade Carr Perennial Garden!

Garden Highlights

Featured: Sept. 18-24

Bugbane

Ironweed

Dahlia

Common Snowberry

Shingle Oak

Heart-leaved Aster

Floribunda Rose

Hairy False Goldenaster

Winterberry

Bigleaf Hydrangea

Running Strawberry Bush

Little Bluestem

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