Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum 'Jessica')
Chrysanthemum 'Jessica' offers long-lasting bright yellow blooms from September to frost. This low-maintenance perennial thrives in full sun.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Chrysanthemum ‘Jessica’ is a highly valued herbaceous perennial, celebrated for being a mainstay of the autumn garden. This specific cultivar, Chrysanthemum ‘Jessica’, produces dense, bright yellow flowers beginning in September and continuing until the first hard frost, ensuring late-season color when many other plants fade. As a compact, well-branched hybrid, it provides substantial visual impact without excessive height.
This variety of Chrysanthemum is robust, demanding low maintenance once established, making it ideal for both dedicated gardeners and those seeking impactful but easy-to-manage bedding plants. Its primary benefit lies in its reliable, profuse blooming display of decorative flowerheads, which are frequently used to supplement or replace summer annuals in the landscape.
Gardeners often appreciate Chrysanthemum, and specifically the reliable performance of Chrysanthemum ‘Jessica’, for filling late-season voids in borders and containers. Proper care, focusing on feeding and pinching, ensures a bushy structure perfect for showcasing its vibrant autumn color display.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Asteraceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 5-9
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 1.5-2 ft
- Spread: 1-1.5 ft
- Bloom Time: September to frost
- Bloom Description: Bright yellow
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
For optimal performance, plant Chrysanthemum ‘Jessica’ in late spring or early summer in humusy, fertile, consistently moist, and well-drained soils. While Chrysanthemum prefers full sun, it can tolerate very light shade, though protection from intense afternoon sun in hot climates is beneficial. Consistent moisture is key, especially during establishment and peak flowering.
Ongoing care involves routine pinching to manage height and promote bushier, denser vegetative growth, which supports better blooms. Aim to pinch stems back from late spring through mid-summer (e.g., Memorial Day to the 4th of July). To encourage abundant flowering, feed these Chrysanthemum plants several times throughout the growing season using a balanced fertilizer.
After the flowering season concludes, cut the plants back to about 6 inches high. Apply a layer of mulch, such as straw or evergreen boughs, to provide necessary winter protection, particularly in the colder reaches of USDA Zone 5. Division is recommended every two to three years, ideally performed in the spring or fall.
It is important to note that while thriving as a perennial, many gardeners treat Chrysanthemum mums as annuals, purchasing them in the late summer for immediate fall color.
Landscape Uses
The compact habit and late blooming of Chrysanthemum ‘Jessica’ make it incredibly versatile in landscape design. It functions excellently as edging along pathways or structural borders due to its manageable height of 1.5 to 2 feet and its mounded form. Consider mass plantings of this bright yellow cultivar to create powerful blocks of fall color against darker evergreen shrubs.
Chrysanthemum ‘Jessica’ also performs beautifully when used in containers, either as a solo feature accent or mixed with other textural, late-season plants like ornamental grasses or dark-leaved heucheras. Because deer and rabbits tend to avoid it, you can confidently place this plant in highly visible areas without worrying about heavy grazing damage.
Whether used as a perennial anchor or a temporary seasonal accent, this Chrysanthemum provides dependable structure and vibrant hue when autumn planning is essential.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Chrysanthemum is a genus of about 20 species grown mostly for their showy flowers, and many hybrids have been developed which are a mainstay of the fall garden. ‘Jessica’ is specifically a clump-forming, fall-blooming garden mum featuring a flat decorative capitulum form, meaning double flowerheads with short ray florets. This compact, mounded hybrid typically grows 1.5-2’ tall, showcasing profuse bright yellow blooms from September until frost, complemented by thick, aromatic, lobed, dark green leaves.
Tolerances
- Rabbit
- Deer
Potential Problems
Aphids, thrips, and spider mites pose the most significant threats to the health of Chrysanthemum ‘Jessica’, sometimes causing noticeable damage. Gardeners should also monitor for common fungal issues such as Botrytis, leaf spots, rust, and powdery mildew, as well as systemic problems like verticillium wilt and aster yellows. Adequate air circulation and avoiding overhead watering can mitigate many fungal concerns.
Overwatering, particularly in the early spring, is a management pitfall, as ‘Jessica’ foliage might show chlorosis (yellowing) under saturated conditions. Maintain proper drainage and water only when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Chrysanthemum ‘Jessica’ suitable for?
Chrysanthemum ‘Jessica’ is reliably hardy in USDA Zones 5 through 9. Gardeners should confirm their local conditions, as winter survival outside of Zone 5 can vary depending on winter protection measures.
How large does Chrysanthemum ‘Jessica’ grow?
This compact Chrysanthemum typically reaches a mature height between 1.5 and 2 feet tall, spreading outwards to cover an area approximately 1 to 1.5 feet wide.
What sun exposure does Chrysanthemum ‘Jessica’ need?
For the best bloom performance and strongest growth, this plant requires full sun exposure throughout the day.
When does Chrysanthemum ‘Jessica’ bloom?
Chrysanthemum ‘Jessica’ is valued for its late season display, blooming profusely from September all the way until the first frost arrives, featuring bright yellow coloration.
Conclusion
Chrysanthemum ‘Jessica’ provides exceptional value for fall gardens through its reliable, bright yellow, late-season flowering period and low maintenance needs. This clump-forming Chrysanthemum ensures color continues well into autumn. Before planting, verify that your garden conditions meet the USDA Zone 5-9 requirement and ensure you select a location that receives adequate full sun.
Companion Planting
When planning arrangements around Chrysanthemum ‘Jessica’, consider species that share similar moisture and sun requirements. Since this mum peaks in the fall, pairing it with late-season structural plants provides excellent contrast. Consider using asters or sedums that bloom concurrently or later, offering differing shapes and textures.
For container gardens, combining the mounded yellow forms of Chrysanthemum with trailing fall foliage plants, such as deep purple ornamental sweet potato vine or trailing mums with contrasting hues, creates dynamic visual interest that lasts throughout the season.
Design Ideas
The uniform height of Chrysanthemum ‘Jessica’ makes it an excellent ‘filler’ plant in the classic design scheme, bridging the gap between shorter edging plants and taller background elements. Use masses of this bright yellow cultivar to draw the eye toward entrances or focal points late in the year.
For a traditional mixed border, plant Chrysanthemum ‘Jessica’ in drifts of three or five along the edge of beds dedicated to late-blooming perennials. Its dense foliage helps mask the waning appearance of earlier summer bloomers, providing a clean, transitional look.
