Decorative garden mum (Chrysanthemum 'Hillside Sheffield Pink')
Chrysanthemum 'Hillside Sheffield Pink' is a low-maintenance Decorative garden mum producing apricot pink blooms from fall to frost.
Scroll down to discover growing tips, care requirements, companion plants, and more
Complete Plant Information
Overview
The Chrysanthemum ‘Hillside Sheffield Pink’ is a highly valued herbaceous perennial, commonly known as the Decorative garden mum, renowned for its outstanding late-season floral display. This cultivar delivers a profusion of single, daisy-like flowers displaying rich apricot pink tones accented by a contrasting golden yellow center, providing essential color just as many summer bloomers fade. As a clump-forming perennial, Chrysanthemum ‘Hillside Sheffield Pink’ offers reliable structure and vibrant aesthetics across USDA Zones 5 through 9.
Gardeners appreciate this specific Decorative garden mum for its robust performance and relative ease of care under sunny conditions. While often grown as an annual accent, its perennial nature allows it to become a mainstay of the fall garden when properly established and overwintered. The bloom period extends reliably from early September right up until the first hard frost, making it indispensable for extending the seasonal interest of borders and beds.
The species name Chrysanthemum is derived from Greek words meaning “gold flower,” reflecting the characteristic centers found in many varieties, including this popular cultivar. Whether used for its aesthetic impact or its late-summer flutter for butterflies, Chrysanthemum ‘Hillside Sheffield Pink’ offers a low-maintenance way to achieve significant visual impact late in the growing season.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Asteraceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 5-9
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 2-3 ft
- Spread: 2-3 ft
- Bloom Time: September to frost
- Bloom Description: Apricot pink with gold center
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
For optimal results, establish Chrysanthemum ‘Hillside Sheffield Pink’ in humusy, fertile, consistently moist, well-drained soils. Full sun exposure is required to maximize bud development and flower quality, though this Decorative garden mum tolerates very light shade. In regions experiencing intense afternoon heat, providing some protection from the harshest late-day sun can be beneficial.
Care involves consistent moisture management, as this mum prefers soil that never completely dries out. To manage height and promote a bushy habit, pinch the stems back periodically from late spring through mid-summer (Memorial Day to the Fourth of July works well as a guideline). For the most prolific bloom, regularly feed the plants several times throughout the active growing season utilizing a balanced fertilizer.
After the spectacular bloom period ends in the fall, cut the spent plants back to about 6 inches. Apply a protective layer of mulch, such as straw or evergreen boughs, especially in colder parts of its range to assist survival over winter. Division is recommended every two to three years, best performed in the spring or fall to refresh the plant vigor. Remember that even under perfect conditions, overwintering success in cold zones is not guaranteed, and many gardeners treat their Chrysanthemum ‘Hillside Sheffield Pink’ as a spectacular annual replacement.
Sport and Landscape Uses
This versatile Decorative garden mum functions excellently in a variety of landscape settings due to its consistent mounding habit, typically reaching 2 to 3 feet in height and spread. It works perfectly as an edging plant along walkways or driveways, providing a neat, colorful border feature throughout autumn. Mass plantings create dense blocks of apricot pink color, ideal for filling large spaces that require late-season energy.
Because of its medium height, Chrysanthemum ‘Hillside Sheffield Pink’ is an effective mid-border plant, nestled between shorter foreground elements and taller background shrubs. It also transitions beautifully into containers or large pots, offering portable fall decor that can supplement summer annual displays before being established in the ground for next year. Pair it with cooler-toned late bloomers like ornamental grasses or deep purple asters to make the unique pink color truly stand out.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Chrysanthemum is a genus of about 20 species grown mostly for their showy flowers. Many hybrids have been developed which are a mainstay of the fall garden. Genus name comes from the Greek words chrysos meaning gold and anthemon meaning flower. ‘Hillside Sheffield Pink’ (synonymous with and also known as ‘Sheffield Pink’ and ‘Single Apricot’) is a clump-forming, fall-blooming garden mum that typically grows 2-3’ tall and as wide. Single daisy-like apricot pink flowers with golden yellow centers cover this plant with a profuse bloom from late summer to frost. Flowers are attractive to butterflies. Lobed, medium green leaves (to 2” long). Synonymous with and sometimes listed for sale as a cultivar of Dendranthemum.
Tolerances
- Rabbit
- Deer
Potential Problems
Aphids, thrips, and spider mites pose potential damage risks; regular inspection is necessary, especially focusing on the undersides of leaves where pests congregate. Controlling pests often involves strong blasts of water or insecticidal soap for minor infestations. Disease risks include fungal issues like Botrytis, leaf spots, rust, and powdery mildew, which thrive in overly humid or poorly circulating air. Ensure good spacing between plants and avoid overhead watering late in the day to mitigate fungal spread. Significant concerns also include stem and root rots, Verticillium wilt, aster yellows, and viruses. Planting in well-drained soil and maintaining good cultural practices are the best preventive measures against these serious systemic issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Chrysanthemum ‘Hillside Sheffield Pink’ suitable for?
This Decorative garden mum is suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 9, providing reliable fall color across a wide geographic area.
How large does Chrysanthemum ‘Hillside Sheffield Pink’ grow?
Chrysanthemum ‘Hillside Sheffield Pink’ typically matures to a height between 2 and 3 feet tall, with an equal spread of 2 to 3 feet wide.
When does Decorative garden mum bloom?
This specific variety blooms reliably from September through the first frost, featuring apricot pink flowers accented with a gold center.
What sun exposure does Decorative garden mum need?
The best blooming performance for Chrysanthemum ‘Hillside Sheffield Pink’ is achieved when it receives full sun exposure throughout the day.
Conclusion
Chrysanthemum ‘Hillside Sheffield Pink’ remains a cornerstone of the autumn garden landscape, delivering reliable, cheerful apricot pink color when few other perennials are performing. This low-maintenance Decorative garden mum establishes easily and provides significant aesthetic value late into the season. Check your local USDA hardiness zone compatibility now and plan to pinch back stems in early summer to maximize the stunning floral display of your Chrysanthemum ‘Hillside Sheffield Pink’ this fall.
Companion Planting
Selecting appropriate neighbors for your Decorative garden mum greatly enhances the visual appeal of the late-season display. Consider pairing Chrysanthemum ‘Hillside Sheffield Pink’, which prefers full sun and medium water, with plants that share similar cultural needs to simplify maintenance routines. Excellent companions include ornamental grasses, which provide vertical contrast and movement against the full, rounded habit of the mum.
For color harmony, complement the apricot pink tones with deep purple or dark blue late-blooming perennials like Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) or New England Asters (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae). Conversely, silvery foliage plants, such as Lamb’s Ears (Stachys byzantina), offer a textural break while harmonizing with the warm pink bloom of the Chrysanthemum ‘Hillside Sheffield Pink’.
Propagation Tips
Successful propagation of Chrysanthemum ‘Hillside Sheffield Pink’ is easily achieved through softwood cuttings taken during the summer months before the plants begin setting heavy bud. Take cuttings approximately 3 to 4 inches long, ensuring each piece includes several nodes, and dip the base in rooting hormone to encourage faster establishment.
Plant these cuttings in a well-draining, moist medium, such as a mix of peat moss and perlite, and maintain high humidity, perhaps using a plastic dome or bag to cover them. Once roots develop—usually within four to six weeks—harden off the new plantlets gradually before transplanting them to a permanent location in the fall or waiting until the following spring. Dividing established clumps every few years in spring or fall is also a highly effective, albeit slower, method of increasing your stock of this beautiful Decorative garden mum.
