Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum 'Yobra' BRAVO)
Discover Chrysanthemum 'Yobra' BRAVO, a low-maintenance, dark red garden mum blooming from September to frost in zones 5-9.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Chrysanthemum ‘Yobra’ BRAVO is a choice, compact garden mum renowned as a mainstay of the autumn garden display. This variety offers a profusion of dark red, flat decorative flowers starting in September and continuing until the first hard frost, adding crucial late-season color. As an herbaceous perennial, it provides reliable, low-maintenance structure, though many gardeners utilize the modern Chrysanthemum selections as vibrant annual accents. The reliable performance and striking color make Chrysanthemum ‘Yobra’ BRAVO a favorite for guaranteeing fall impact.
This cultivar is known for its mounded, well-branched habit, typically keeping a manageable height between 1.5 and 2 feet tall. It thrives best in well-prepared, consistently moist soil under full sun conditions, ensuring the richest bloom color. Gardeners benefit from simple cultural practices, including seasonal pinching, which helps develop the dense form needed for maximum visual appeal from this beautiful Chrysanthemum.
Overall, the appeal of Chrysanthemum ‘Yobra’ BRAVO lies in its dependable late-season color display and manageable stature. Whether treated as a perennial returning yearly or as a seasonal annual component, this dark red hybrid brings consistent aesthetic value to borders and containers when other summer flowers begin to fade.
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: Dark red
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
For optimal growth, plant Chrysanthemum ‘Yobra’ BRAVO in humusy, fertile, consistently moist, yet well-drained soils. While full sun is ideal for the deepest coloration, this perennial will tolerate very light shade, appreciating slight protection from the harshest afternoon sun in extremely hot climates. Planting should ideally take place in spring, allowing the plant time to establish its root system before the fall flowering push.
Consistent care ensures the best bloom set for your Chrysanthemum. Pinch the stems back intermittently from late spring through mid-summer (such as Memorial Day to the Fourth of July) to encourage a denser, bushier habit rather than letting it become leggy. Remember to feed plants several times throughout the growing season to support the heavy flower production expected from Chrysanthemum ‘Yobra’ BRAVO.
After the final fall frost has passed, cut the plants back to about 6 inches high. Apply a protective layer of mulch, such as straw or evergreen boughs, particularly in colder zones, to help insulate the crowns for winter survival. Though hardy, perennial survival can vary, so winter protection is recommended. Division is necessary every 2-3 years, best performed in spring or fall to rejuvenate congested clumps.
Landscape Uses
As a versatile plant, Chrysanthemum ‘Yobra’ BRAVO excels in various landscape applications, often used as a perennial filler or an annual edge plant for seasonal impact. Its compact, mounded habit makes it perfect for mass planting to create bold drifts of dark red color along pathways or borders. It also functions beautifully as an edging plant for perennial beds, clearly defining the front line of the display.
Containers are another excellent venue for this garden mum, offering portable fall color that can be grouped with taller grasses or trailing plants. Though often used singularly for high impact, consider pairing it with late-blooming ornamental grasses or sturdy purple or gold foliage plants that complement its dark red bloom. Gardeners often leverage its strong seasonal color to supplement or replace summer annuals approaching their end of life.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Chrysanthemum is a genus grown mostly for its showy flowers, with many hybrids being a mainstay of the fall garden. BRAVO is a clump-forming, fall-blooming garden mum featuring a flat decorative capitulum form, signifying flattened, double flowerheads. This compact, well-branched hybrid grows 1.5-2’ tall and is recognized for its profuse, vibrant, dark red bloom covering the plant from September until frost.
Tolerances
- Rabbit
- Deer
Potential Problems
Aphids, thrips, and spider mites can cause significant cosmetic damage to Chrysanthemum foliage and buds. Watch for potential disease issues including Botrytis, leaf spots, rust, powdery mildew, stem and root rots, verticillium wilt, aster yellows, and various viruses. Gardeners should note that BRAVO is reportedly sensitive to bacterial leaf spot, requiring careful watering practices to keep foliage dry. Preventative sprays and proper air circulation are keys to managing common pests and fungus issues throughout the season.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Chrysanthemum ‘Yobra’ BRAVO suitable for?
This robust garden mum is reliably hardy in USDA Zones 5 through 9.
How large does Chrysanthemum grow?
Chrysanthemum ‘Yobra’ BRAVO typically reaches a height between 1.5 and 2 feet, with a spread of 1 to 1.5 feet when fully mature.
What sun exposure does Chrysanthemum need?
For the best dark red flower production, ensure this plant receives full sun exposure throughout the growing season.
When does Chrysanthemum ‘Yobra’ BRAVO bloom?
This variety provides consistent deep color beginning in September and continues blooming profusely until the first hard frost arrives.
Conclusion
The reliable, compact structure and late-season dark red vibrancy make Chrysanthemum ‘Yobra’ BRAVO an essential component for autumn interest in any garden setting. For guaranteed long-lasting fall color, integrating this well-branched perennial is highly recommended. Before planting, always confirm that your garden location falls within USDA Zones 5-9 to ensure the best chances of seasonal success with this wonderful Chrysanthemum.
Companion Planting
Selecting appropriate neighbors enhances the display provided by Chrysanthemum ‘Yobra’ BRAVO. Because it thrives in full sun and medium moisture, look for plants with similar requirements that offer contrasting textures or colors. Consider pairing the dark red blooms with silvery foliage plants like Artemisia ‘Silver Mound’ or various Sedums, which provide textural contrast while the garden mum shines through. For a classic fall palette, interplanting with ornamental grasses that boast bronze or gold plumes creates vertical interest behind the lower-growing Chrysanthemum.
Design Ideas
The formal, rounded shape of Chrysanthemum ‘Yobra’ BRAVO lends itself perfectly to formal bedding designs, often planted in structured blocks or geometric patterns where its color can be singularly impactful. Alternatively, use this perennial as a robust “thriller” element in mixed fall containers alongside cascading mums or trailing ivy for an instantaneous centerpiece. When planting in borders, consider grouping three or five plants together for maximum visual weight, ensuring the dark red color reads clearly from a distance.
