Chrysanthemums ( ), sometimes called mums or chrysanths, are
flowering plant
Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...
s in the
Asteraceae
Asteraceae () is a large family (biology), family of flowering plants that consists of over 32,000 known species in over 1,900 genera within the Order (biology), order Asterales. The number of species in Asteraceae is rivaled only by the Orchi ...
family.
They are
native to
East Asia
East Asia is a geocultural region of Asia. It includes China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan, plus two special administrative regions of China, Hong Kong and Macau. The economies of Economy of China, China, Economy of Ja ...
and
northeastern Europe. Most species originate from East Asia, and the
center of diversity is in
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...
.
Countless horticultural varieties and cultivars exist.
Description

The
genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
''Chrysanthemum'' are
perennial
In horticulture, the term perennial ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the year") is used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. It has thus been defined as a plant that lives more than 2 years. The term is also ...
herbaceous
Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials.
Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous"
The fourth edition of ...
flowering plant
Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...
s, sometimes
subshrub
A subshrub (Latin ''suffrutex'') or undershrub is either a small shrub (e.g. prostrate shrubs) or a perennial that is largely herbaceous but slightly woody at the base (e.g. garden pink and florist's chrysanthemum). The term is often interch ...
s. The
leaves
A leaf (: leaves) is a principal appendage of the stem of a vascular plant, usually borne laterally above ground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, stem, ...
are alternate, divided into leaflets and may be
pinnatisect, lobed, or
serrate (toothed) but rarely entire; they are connected to stalks with
hairy bases.
The compound
inflorescence
In botany, an inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a plant's Plant stem, stem that is composed of a main branch or a system of branches. An inflorescence is categorized on the basis of the arrangement of flowers on a mai ...
is an array of several
flower heads
A pseudanthium (; : pseudanthia) is an inflorescence that resembles a flower. The word is sometimes used for other structures that are neither a true flower nor a true inflorescence. Examples of pseudanthia include flower heads, composite flowers ...
, or sometimes a solitary head. The head has a base covered in layers of
phyllaries. The simple row of ray florets is white, yellow, or red. The disc florets are yellow.
Pollen grains are approximately 34 microns.
The fruit is a ribbed
achene
An achene (; ), also sometimes called akene and occasionally achenium or achenocarp, is a type of simple fruit, simple dry fruits, dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate (formed from one carpel) and Dehi ...
.
[''Chrysanthemum''.]
Flora of China. eFloras.
Etymology
The name "chrysanthemum" is derived from the ''chrysos'' (gold) and ''anthemon'' (flower).
Taxonomy
The genus ''Chrysanthemum'' was first formally described by
Linnaeus
Carl Linnaeus (23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), also known after ennoblement in 1761 as Carl von Linné,#Blunt, Blunt (2004), p. 171. was a Swedish biologist and physician who formalised binomial nomenclature, the modern system of naming o ...
in 1753, with 14
species
A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...
, and hence bears his name (
L.) as the
botanical authority. The genus once included more species, but was split several decades ago into several genera, putting the economically important florist's chrysanthemums in the genus ''Dendranthema''. The naming of these genera has been contentious, but a ruling of the
International Botanical Congress in 1999 changed the
defining species of the genus to ''Chrysanthemum indicum'', restoring the florist's chrysanthemums to the genus ''Chrysanthemum''.
Genera now separated from ''Chrysanthemum'' include ''
Argyranthemum'', ''
Glebionis'', ''
Leucanthemopsis'', ''
Leucanthemum'', ''
Rhodanthemum'', and ''
Tanacetum''.
Species
, ''
Plants of the World Online
Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online taxonomic database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
History
Following the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew launched Plants of the World Online i ...
'' accepted the following species:
* ''
Chrysanthemum aphrodite''
Kitam.
* ''
Chrysanthemum arcticum''
L.
* ''
Chrysanthemum argyrophyllum''
Ling
* ''
Chrysanthemum arisanense''
Hayata
* ''
Chrysanthemum chalchingolicum''
Grubov
* ''
Chrysanthemum chanetii''
H.Lév.
* ''
Chrysanthemum crassum''
(Kitam.) Kitam.
* ''
Chrysanthemum cuneifolium''
Kitam.
* ''
Chrysanthemum daucifolium''
Pers.
* ''
Chrysanthemum dichrum''
(C.Shih) H.Ohashi & Yonek.
* ''
Chrysanthemum foliaceum''
(G.F.Peng, C.Shih & S.Q.Zhang) J.M.Wang & Y.T.Hou
* ''
Chrysanthemum glabriusculum''
(W.W.Sm.) Hand.-Mazz.
* ''
Chrysanthemum horaimontanum''
Masam.
* ''
Chrysanthemum hypargyreum''
Diels
* ''
Chrysanthemum indicum''
L.
* ''
Chrysanthemum integrifolium''
Richardson
* ''
Chrysanthemum japonense''
(Makino) Nakai
*
''Chrysanthemum'' × ''konoanum'' Makino
* ''
Chrysanthemum lavandulifolium''
Makino
* ''
Chrysanthemum leucanthum''
(Makino) Makino
* ''
Chrysanthemum longibracteatum''
(C.Shih, G.F.Peng & S.Y.Jin) J.M.Wang & Y.T.Hou
* ''
Chrysanthemum maximoviczii''
Kom.
* ''
Chrysanthemum miyatojimense''
Kitam.
*
''Chrysanthemum'' × ''morifolium'' (Ramat.) Hemsl.
* ''
Chrysanthemum morii''
Hayata
* ''
Chrysanthemum naktongense''
Nakai
* ''
Chrysanthemum ogawae''
Kitam.
* ''
Chrysanthemum okiense''
Kitam.
* ''
Chrysanthemum oreastrum''
Hance
* ''
Chrysanthemum ornatum''
Hemsl.
* ''
Chrysanthemum parvifolium''
C.C.Chang
* ''
Chrysanthemum potentilloides''
Hand.-Mazz.
* ''
Chrysanthemum rhombifolium''
(Y.Ling & C.Shih) H.Ohashi & Yonek.
*
''Chrysanthemum'' × ''rubellum'' Sealy
*
''Chrysanthemum'' × ''shimotomaii'' Makino
* ''
Chrysanthemum sinuatum''
Ledeb.
* ''
Chrysanthemum vestitum''
(Hemsl.) Kitam.
* ''
Chrysanthemum yantaiense''
M.Sun & J.T.Chen
* ''
Chrysanthemum yoshinaganthum''
Makino
* ''
Chrysanthemum zawadskii''
Herbich
* ''
Chrysanthemum zhuozishanense''
L.Q.Zhao & Jie Yang
Former species include:
* ''Chrysanthemum carinatum'' = ''
Ismelia carinata''
* ''Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium'' = ''
Tanacetum cinerariifolium''
* ''Chrysanthemum coccineum'' = ''
Tanacetum coccineum''
* ''Chrysanthemum coronarium'' = ''
Glebionis coronaria''
* ''Chrysanthemum frutescens'' = ''
Argyranthemum frutescens''
* ''Chrysanthemum maximum'' = ''
Leucanthemum maximum''
* ''
Chrysanthemum pacificum'' = ''
Ajania pacifica''
* ''Chrysanthemum segetum'' = ''
Glebionis segetum''
Ecology
Chrysanthemums start blooming in early autumn. They are also known as a flower associated with the month of November.
Cultivation
Chrysanthemums ( zh, c=菊花, p=Júhuā) were first cultivated in China as a flowering
herb
Herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicinal purposes, or for fragrances. Culinary use typically distingu ...
as far back as the 15th century
BCE. Over 500 cultivars had been recorded by 1630.
By 2014, it was estimated that there were over 20,000 cultivars in the world and about 7,000 cultivars in China. The plant is renowned as one of the
Four Gentlemen () in
Chinese and
East Asian Art. The plant is particularly significant during the
Double Ninth Festival.
Chrysanthemum cultivation in Japan began during the
Nara
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is an independent agency of the United States government within the executive branch, charged with the preservation and documentation of government and historical records. It is also task ...
and
Heian period
The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. It followed the Nara period, beginning when the 50th emperor, Emperor Kammu, moved the capital of Japan to Heian-kyō (modern Kyoto). means in Japanese. It is a ...
s (early 8th to late 12th centuries) and gained popularity in the
Edo period
The , also known as the , is the period between 1600 or 1603 and 1868 in the history of Japan, when the country was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and some 300 regional ''daimyo'', or feudal lords. Emerging from the chaos of the Sengok ...
(early 17th to late 19th century). Many flower shapes, colours, and varieties were created. The way the flowers were grown and shaped also developed, and chrysanthemum culture flourished. Various cultivars of chrysanthemums created in the Edo period were characterized by a remarkable variety of flower shapes. They were exported to China from the end of the Edo period, changing the way Chinese chrysanthemum cultivars were grown and their popularity.
[History of chrysanthemums.](_blank)
Odawara City In addition, from the
Meiji period
The was an era of Japanese history that extended from October 23, 1868, to July 30, 1912. The Meiji era was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people moved from being an isolated feudal society at risk of colonizatio ...
(late 19th to early 20th century), many cultivars with flowers over in diameter, called the ''Ogiku'' (lit., great chrysanthemum) style, were created, which influenced the subsequent trend of chrysanthemums.
The
Imperial Seal of Japan
The Imperial Seal of Japan or National Seal of Japan, also called the , or , is the ''Mon (emblem), mon'' used by the Emperor of Japan and members of the Imperial House of Japan, Imperial Family.
It is one of the national seals of Japan and is ...
is a chrysanthemum, and the institution of the monarchy is also called the
Chrysanthemum Throne
The is the throne of the Emperor of Japan. The term also can refer to very specific seating, such as the throne in the Shishin-den at Kyoto Imperial Palace.
Various other thrones or seats that are used by the Emperor during official functions ...
. A number of festivals and shows take place throughout Japan in autumn when the flowers bloom. is one of the five ancient sacred festivals. It is celebrated on the 9th day of the 9th month. It was started in 910, when the imperial court held its first chrysanthemum show.
Chrysanthemums entered American horticulture in 1798 when
Colonel John Stevens imported a
cultivated variety known as Dark Purple from England. The introduction was part of an effort to grow attractions within
Elysian Fields in
Hoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken ( ; ) is a City (New Jersey), city in Hudson County, New Jersey, Hudson County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Hoboken is part of the New York metropolitan area and is the site of Hoboken Terminal, a major transportation hub. As of the ...
.
[The New York Botanical Garden, ''Curtis' Botanical Magazine, Volume X'' Bronx, New York: The New York Botanical Garden, 1797]
Uses
Ornamental uses

Modern cultivated chrysanthemums are usually brighter and more striking than their wild relatives. Many horticultural specimens have been bred to bear many rows of ray florets in a great variety of colors. The flower heads occur in various forms, and can be daisy-like or decorative, like
pompons or
button
A button is a fastener that joins two pieces of fabric together by slipping through a loop or by sliding through a buttonhole.
In modern clothing and fashion design, buttons are commonly made of plastic but also may be made of metal, wood, or ...
s. This genus contains many
hybrids and thousands of
cultivar
A cultivar is a kind of Horticulture, cultivated plant that people have selected for desired phenotypic trait, traits and which retains those traits when Plant propagation, propagated. Methods used to propagate cultivars include division, root a ...
s developed for horticultural purposes. In addition to the traditional yellow, other colors are available, such as white, purple, and red. The most important hybrid is
''Chrysanthemum'' × ''morifolium'' (syn. ''C.'' × ''grandiflorum''), derived primarily from ''C. indicum'', but also involving other species.
Over 140 cultivars of chrysanthemum have gained the
Royal Horticultural Society
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity.
The RHS promotes horticulture through its five gardens at Wisley (Surrey), Hyde Hall (Essex), Harlow Carr ...
's
Award of Garden Merit
The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions.
It includes the full range of cultivated p ...
(confirmed 2017).
In Japan, a form of ''
bonsai
Bonsai (; , ) is the Japanese art of Horticulture, growing and shaping miniature trees in containers, with a long documented history of influences and native Japanese development over a thousand years, and with unique aesthetics, cultural hist ...
'' chrysanthemum was developed over the centuries. The cultivated flower has a lifespan of about 5 years and can be kept in miniature size. Another method is to use pieces of dead wood and the flower grows over the back along the wood to give the illusion from the front that the miniature tree blooms.
Culinary uses
Yellow or white chrysanthemum flowers of the species ''C. morifolium'' are boiled to make a tea in some parts of East Asia. The resulting beverage is known simply as
chrysanthemum tea (
菊 花 茶,
pinyin
Hanyu Pinyin, or simply pinyin, officially the Chinese Phonetic Alphabet, is the most common romanization system for Standard Chinese. ''Hanyu'' () literally means 'Han Chinese, Han language'—that is, the Chinese language—while ''pinyin' ...
: ''júhuā chá'', in Chinese). In Korea, a
rice wine
Rice wine is an alcoholic beverage fermentation, fermented from rice, traditionally consumed in East Asia, Southeast Asia and South Asia, where rice is a quintessential staple crop. Rice wine is made by the fermentation of rice starch, during wh ...
flavored with chrysanthemum flowers is called ''gukhwaju'' ().
Chrysanthemum leaves are steamed or boiled and used as greens, especially in Chinese cuisine. The flowers may be added to dishes such as ''
mixian'' in broth or thick snakemeat soup (蛇羹) to enhance the aroma. They are commonly used in
hot pot
Hot pot ( zh, c=, s=wikt:火锅, 火锅, t=wikt:火鍋, 火鍋, p=huǒguō, l=fire pot, first=t) or hotpot, also known as steamboat, is a dish (food), dish of soup/stock (food), stock kept simmering in a cooking pot, pot by a heat source on ...
and stir fries. In Japanese cuisine, small chrysanthemums are used as garnish for
sashimi
is a Japanese cuisine, Japanese delicacy consisting of fresh raw fish or Raw meat, meat sliced into thin pieces and often eaten with soy sauce.
Origin
The word ''sashimi'' means 'pierced body', i.e., "wikt:刺身, 刺身" = ''sashimi'', whe ...
.
Insecticidal uses
Pyrethrum (''Chrysanthemum ''
Tanacetum''">r''
Tanacetum''' cinerariaefolium'') is economically important as a natural source of
insecticide
Insecticides are pesticides used to kill insects. They include ovicides and larvicides used against insect eggs and larvae, respectively. The major use of insecticides is in agriculture, but they are also used in home and garden settings, i ...
. The flowers are pulverized, and the active components, called
pyrethrins, which occur in the
achene
An achene (; ), also sometimes called akene and occasionally achenium or achenocarp, is a type of simple fruit, simple dry fruits, dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate (formed from one carpel) and Dehi ...
s, are extracted and sold in the form of an
oleoresin. This is applied as a suspension in water or oil, or as a powder. Pyrethrins attack the nervous systems of all
insect
Insects (from Latin ') are Hexapoda, hexapod invertebrates of the class (biology), class Insecta. They are the largest group within the arthropod phylum. Insects have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body (Insect morphology#Head, head, ...
s, and inhibit female
mosquito
Mosquitoes, the Culicidae, are a Family (biology), family of small Diptera, flies consisting of 3,600 species. The word ''mosquito'' (formed by ''Musca (fly), mosca'' and diminutive ''-ito'') is Spanish and Portuguese for ''little fly''. Mos ...
es from biting. In sublethal doses, they have an
insect repellent effect. They are harmful to
fish
A fish (: fish or fishes) is an aquatic animal, aquatic, Anamniotes, anamniotic, gill-bearing vertebrate animal with swimming fish fin, fins and craniate, a hard skull, but lacking limb (anatomy), limbs with digit (anatomy), digits. Fish can ...
, but are far less toxic to
mammal
A mammal () is a vertebrate animal of the Class (biology), class Mammalia (). Mammals are characterised by the presence of milk-producing mammary glands for feeding their young, a broad neocortex region of the brain, fur or hair, and three ...
s and
bird
Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class (biology), class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the Oviparity, laying of Eggshell, hard-shelled eggs, a high Metabolism, metabolic rate, a fou ...
s than many synthetic insecticides. They are not persistent, being
biodegradable, and also
decompose easily on exposure to light.
Pyrethroid
A pyrethroid is an organic compound similar to the natural pyrethrins, which are produced by the flowers of pyrethrums (''Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium'' and ''Chrysanthemum coccineum, C. coccineum''). Pyrethroids are used as commercial and hou ...
s such as
permethrin are synthetic insecticides based on natural pyrethrum. Despite this, chrysanthemum leaves are still a major host for destructive pests, such as
leafminer flies including
''L. trifolii''.
Persian powder is an example of industrial product of chrysanthemum insecticide.
Environmental uses
Chrysanthemum plants have been shown to reduce
indoor air pollution by the
NASA Clean Air Study.
In culture
In some European countries (e.g., France,
Belgium
Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...
, Italy, Spain,
Poland
Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukrai ...
,
Hungary
Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning much of the Pannonian Basin, Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia and ...
,
Croatia
Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herze ...
), incurve chrysanthemums symbolize
death
Death is the end of life; the irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain a living organism. Death eventually and inevitably occurs in all organisms. The remains of a former organism normally begin to decompose sh ...
and are used only for funerals or on graves, while other types carry no such symbolism; similarly, in China, Japan, and
Korea
Korea is a peninsular region in East Asia consisting of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju Island, and smaller islands. Since the end of World War II in 1945, it has been politically Division of Korea, divided at or near the 38th parallel north, 3 ...
of East Asia, white chrysanthemums symbolize adversity, lamentation, and/or grief. In some other countries, they represent honesty. In the United States, the flower is usually regarded as positive and cheerful, with New Orleans as a notable exception.
In the
Victorian language of flowers, the chrysanthemum had several meanings. The Chinese chrysanthemum meant cheerfulness, whereas the red chrysanthemum stood for "I Love", while the yellow chrysanthemum symbolized slighted love. The chrysanthemum is also the flower of November.
East Asia
China
* The chrysanthemum is the city flower of
Beijing
Beijing, Chinese postal romanization, previously romanized as Peking, is the capital city of China. With more than 22 million residents, it is the world's List of national capitals by population, most populous national capital city as well as ...
and
Kaifeng. The tradition of cultivating different varieties of chrysanthemums stretches back 1600 years, and the scale reached a phenomenal level during the Song dynasty until its loss to the
Jürchens in 1126. The city has held the Kaifeng Chrysanthemum Cultural Festival since 1983 (renamed China Kaifeng Chrysanthemum Cultural Festival in 1994). The event is the largest chrysanthemum festival in China; it has been a yearly feature since, taking place between 18 October and 18 November every year.
* The chrysanthemum is one of the "
Four Gentlemen" () of China (the others being the
plum blossom, the
orchid
Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant. Orchids are cosmopolitan plants that are found in almost every habitat on Eart ...
, and
bamboo
Bamboos are a diverse group of mostly evergreen perennial plant, perennial flowering plants making up the subfamily (biology), subfamily Bambusoideae of the grass family Poaceae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family, in th ...
). The chrysanthemum is said to have been favored by
Tao Qian, an influential Chinese poet, and is symbolic of nobility. It is also one of the four symbolic seasonal flowers.
* A chrysanthemum festival is held each year in
Tongxiang, near
Hangzhou
Hangzhou, , Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ; formerly romanized as Hangchow is a sub-provincial city in East China and the capital of Zhejiang province. With a population of 13 million, the municipality comprises ten districts, two counti ...
, China.
* Chrysanthemums are the topic in hundreds of poems of China.
* The "golden flower" referred to in the 2006 movie ''
Curse of the Golden Flower'' is a chrysanthemum.
* "Chrysanthemum Gate" (jú huā mén ), often abbreviated as Chrysanthemum (菊花), is taboo slang meaning "anus" (with sexual connotations).
* An ancient Chinese city (Xiaolan Town of Zhongshan City) was named Ju-Xian, meaning "chrysanthemum city".
* The plant is particularly significant during the Chinese
Double Ninth Festival.
* In Chinese culture, the chrysanthemum is a symbol of autumn and the flower of the ninth moon. People even drank chrysanthemum wine on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month to prolong their lives during the Han dynasty. It is a symbol of longevity because of its health-giving properties. Because of all of this, the flower was often worn on funeral attire.
*
Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China listed two kinds of chrysanthemum for medical use, Yejuhua and Juhua. Historically Yejuhua is said to treat carbuncle, furuncle, conjunctivitis, headache, and vertigo. Juhua is said to treat cold, headache, vertigo, and conjunctivitis.
Japan

Chrysanthemums first arrived in Japan by way of China in the 5th century. The chrysanthemum has been used as a theme of ''
waka'' (Japanese traditional poetry) since around the 10th century in the
Heian period
The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. It followed the Nara period, beginning when the 50th emperor, Emperor Kammu, moved the capital of Japan to Heian-kyō (modern Kyoto). means in Japanese. It is a ...
, and ''
Kokin Wakashū'' is the most famous of them. In the 12th century, during the
Kamakura period
The is a period of History of Japan, Japanese history that marks the governance by the Kamakura shogunate, officially established in 1192 in Kamakura, Kanagawa, Kamakura by the first ''shōgun'' Minamoto no Yoritomo after the conclusion of the G ...
, when the retired
Emperor Go-Toba
was the 82nd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1183 through 1198.
This 12th-century sovereign was named after Emperor Toba, and ''go-'' (後), translates literally as "later"; ...
adopted it as the
mon (family crest) of the
Imperial family
A royal family is the immediate family of monarch, monarchs and sometimes their extended family.
The term imperial family appropriately describes the family of an emperor or emperor, empress, and the term papal family describes the family of ...
, it became a flower that symbolized autumn in Japan. During the
Edo period
The , also known as the , is the period between 1600 or 1603 and 1868 in the history of Japan, when the country was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and some 300 regional ''daimyo'', or feudal lords. Emerging from the chaos of the Sengok ...
from the 17th century to the 19th century, due to the development of economy and culture, the cultivation of chrysanthemums,
cherry blossoms,
Japanese iris,
morning glory
Morning glory (also written as morning-glory) is the common name for over 1,000 species of flowering plants in the family Convolvulaceae, whose taxonomy and systematics remain in flux. These species are distributed across numerous genus, gene ...
, etc. became popular, many cultivars were created and many
chrysanthemum exhibitions were held. From the
Meiji period
The was an era of Japanese history that extended from October 23, 1868, to July 30, 1912. The Meiji era was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people moved from being an isolated feudal society at risk of colonizatio ...
in the latter half of the 19th century, due to the growing importance of the chrysanthemum, which symbolized the Imperial family, the creation of ''ogiku'' style cultivars with a diameter of 20 cm or more became popular.
In the present day, each autumn there are chrysanthemum exhibitions at the
Shinjuku Gyo-en,
Meiji Shrine and
Yasukuni Shrine in
Tokyo
Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...
. The Yasukuni Shrine, formerly a state-endowed shrine (官国弊社, ''kankokuheisha'') has adopted the chrysanthemum crest. Culinary-grade chrysanthemums are used to decorate food, and they remain a common motif for traditional
Japanese art
Japanese art consists of a wide range of art styles and media that includes Jōmon pottery, ancient pottery, Japanese sculpture, sculpture, Ink wash painting, ink painting and Japanese calligraphy, calligraphy on silk and paper, Ukiyo-e, paint ...
s like
porcelain
Porcelain (), also called china, is a ceramic material made by heating Industrial mineral, raw materials, generally including kaolinite, in a kiln to temperatures between . The greater strength and translucence of porcelain, relative to oth ...
,
lacquerware
Lacquerware are objects decoratively covered with lacquer. Lacquerware includes small or large containers, tableware, a variety of small objects carried by people, and larger objects such as furniture and even coffins painted with lacquer. Before ...
and ''
kimono''.
Chrysanthemum growing is still practised actively as a hobby by many
Japanese people
are an East Asian ethnic group native to the Japanese archipelago. Japanese people constitute 97.4% of the population of the country of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 125 million people are of Japanese descent, making them list of contempora ...
who enter prize plants in contests.
Chrysanthemum "dolls", often depicting fictional characters from both traditional sources like ''
kabuki
is a classical form of Theatre of Japan, Japanese theatre, mixing dramatic performance with Japanese traditional dance, traditional dance. Kabuki theatre is known for its heavily stylised performances, its glamorous, highly decorated costumes ...
'' and contemporary sources like Disney, are displayed throughout the fall months, and the city of
Nihonmatsu hosts the "Nihonmatsu Chrysanthemum Dolls Exhibition" every autumn in historical ruin of
Nihonmatsu Castle. They are also grown into
chrysanthemum bonsai forms.
* In Japan, the chrysanthemum is a symbol of the
Emperor
The word ''emperor'' (from , via ) can mean the male ruler of an empire. ''Empress'', the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife (empress consort), mother/grandmother (empress dowager/grand empress dowager), or a woman who rules ...
and the Imperial House of Japan, Imperial family. In particular, a "chrysanthemum crest" (菊花紋章, ''kikukamonshō'' or'' kikkamonshō''), i.e. a mon (crest), mon of chrysanthemum blossom design, indicates a link to the Emperor; there are more than 150 patterns of this design. Notable uses of and reference to the Imperial chrysanthemum include:
** The
Imperial Seal of Japan
The Imperial Seal of Japan or National Seal of Japan, also called the , or , is the ''Mon (emblem), mon'' used by the Emperor of Japan and members of the Imperial House of Japan, Imperial Family.
It is one of the national seals of Japan and is ...
is used by members of the Japanese imperial family. In 1869, a two-layered, 16-petal design was designated as the symbol of the emperor. Princes used a simpler, single-layer pattern.
** The
Chrysanthemum Throne
The is the throne of the Emperor of Japan. The term also can refer to very specific seating, such as the throne in the Shishin-den at Kyoto Imperial Palace.
Various other thrones or seats that are used by the Emperor during official functions ...
is the name given to the position of Japanese Emperor and the throne.
** The Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum is a Japanese honor awarded by the emperor on the advice of the Government of Japan, Japanese government.
** In Imperial Japan, small arms were required to be stamped with the imperial chrysanthemum, as they were considered the personal property of the emperor.
* The Nagoya Castle Chrysanthemum Competition started after the end of the Pacific War. The event at the castle has become a tradition for the city. With three categories, it is one of the largest events of its kind in the region by both scale and content. The first category is the exhibition of cultivated flowers. The second category is for ''bonsai'' flowers, which are combined with dead pieces of wood to give the illusion of miniature trees. The third category is the creation of miniature landscapes.
File:Imperial Seal of Japan.jpg, Chrysanthemum crest on the battleship Japanese battleship Mikasa, ''Mikasa''
File:高台寺蒔絵-Sake Ewer (Hisage) with Chrysanthemums and Paulownia Crests in Alternating Fields.jpg, ''Maki-e'' Sake Ewer with Chrysanthemums and Government Seal of Japan, Paulownia Crests in Alternating Fields. early 17th century, Azuchi–Momoyama period.
File:Flower show-J. M. W. Silver.jpg, Chrysanthemum shows have been traditionally held in many Japanese towns.
File:Hirakata-kikuningyo3231.JPG, "Hirakata Chrysanthemum Dolls Exhibition" (2005)
File:Chrysanthemum,kiku,katori-city,japan.JPG, Chrysanthemums in the Japanese ''Ogiku'' (lit., great chrysanthemum) style.
Korea

The flower is found extensively in inlaid Goryeo ware, Goreyo ware and were reproduced in stamp form in Buncheong, Buncheong wares. Several twentieth century potters, especially Kim Se-yong, created double-wall wares featuring each individual petal painted in white clay against a celadon background. A vase produced using this technique and presented in 1999 to Elizabeth II, Queen Elizabeth II can be found in the Royal Collection.
Laying a wreath of white chrysanthemums to mourn at funerals has been common since the early 20th century. Before the 20th century, white clothing was traditionally worn in funeral settings. However, the introduction of Western culture made black the prevalent color. White chrysanthemums were instead used to preserve the tradition of using white to mourn at funerals.
Korea has a number of flower shows that exhibit the chrysanthemum, such as the Masan Gagopa Chrysanthemum Festival.
File:Funeral parlor for the Park Won-soon, Mayor of Seoul.jpg, White chrysanthemums at a Korean funeral parlor.
File:Double-openwork celadon moon jar with chrysanthemums.jpg, celadon moon jar with chrysanthemums, Kim Se-yong
File:청자 상감 국화 넝쿨 무늬 완.jpg, Goryeo ware bowl with chrysanthemum inscription. early 11th century, Goryeo, Goryeo dynasty.
File:Celadon inlaid peony and chrysanthemum pattern melon-shaped bottle.jpg, Celadon inlaid peony and chrysanthemum pattern melon-shaped bottle, Goryeo dynasty
File:Chrysanthemums in Masan port during gagopa chrysanthemum festival.jpg, Masan Gagopa Chrysanthemum Festival
West Asia
Iran
In Iran, chrysanthemums are associated with the Zoroastrian spiritual being Ashi Vanghuhi (lit. 'good blessings, rewards'), a female Yazad (angel) presiding over blessings.
Oceania
Australia
In Australia, on Mother's Day, which falls in May when the flower is in season, people traditionally wear a white chrysanthemum, or a similar white flower to honour their mothers. Chrysanthemums are often given as Mother's Day presents.
North America
United States
* On 5 and 6 November 1883, in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS), at the request of the Florists and Growers Society, held its first Chrysanthemum Show in Horticultural Hall. This would be the first of several chrysanthemum events presented by PHS to the public.
* The founding of the chrysanthemum industry dates back to 1884, when the Enomoto brothers of Redwood City, California, grew the first chrysanthemums cultivated in America.
[La Peninsula, xlii (1)]
* In 1913, Sadakasu Enomoto (of San Mateo County) astounded the flower world by successfully shipping a carload of Turner chrysanthemums to New Orleans for the All Saints Day Celebration.
* The chrysanthemum was recognized as the official flower of the city of Chicago by Mayor Richard J. Daley in 1966.
* The chrysanthemum is the official flower of the city of Salinas, California.
* The chrysanthemum is the official flower of several fraternities and sororities, including Chi Phi, Phi Kappa Sigma, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Lambda Kappa Sigma, Sigma Alpha, and Triangle Fraternity.
Europe
Italy
Italian composer Giacomo Puccini wrote ''Crisantemi'' (1890), a movement for string quartet, in memory of his friend Amadeo of Spain, Amedeo di Savoia Duca d'Aosta. In Italy (and other European countries) the chrysanthemum is the flower that people traditionally bring to their deceased loved ones at the cemetery and is generally associated with mourning. A probable reason for this is the fact that the plant flowers between the end of October and the beginning of November, coinciding with the Day of the Dead, Day of the Dead (2 November).
Poland
Chrysanthemums are placed on graves to honor the dead during All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day in
Poland
Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukrai ...
.
United Kingdom
The National Plant Collection, UK National Collection of hardy chrysanthemums is at Hill Close Gardens near Warwick.
Gallery
File:Chrysanthemum February 2008-2.jpg, Bud of a garden chrysanthemum
File:Chrysanthème tokyo.jpg, ''Chrysanthemum'' × ''morifolium'' 'Tokyo'
File:Chrysanthemum 094557.jpg, Purple Chrysanthemum
File:Chrysanthemum morifolium 08NOV.jpg, pink ''Chrysanthemum'' × ''morifolium''
File:Red chrysanthemum.jpg, Red chrysanthemum
File:Chrysanthemum Plant (1) 06.jpg, Closeup view of White Chrysanthemum
File:Chrysanthemum 'Vesuvius'.jpg, ''Chrysanthemum'' × ''morifolium'' 'Vesuvius'
File:Złocień Zawadzkiego P39.jpg, '' Chrysanthemum zawadskii''
File:Chrysanthemum indicum2.jpg, '' Chrysanthemum indicum''
File:Chrysanthemum japonense var ashizuriense1.jpg, '' Chrysanthemum japonense'' var. ''ashizuriense''
File:Beautiful Chrysanthemum.JPG, A peach coloured chrysanthemum
File:Tiger tail mum 0004.JPG, Tiger Tail chrysanthemum
File:Chrysanthemum leaves.JPG, Leaves of chrysanthemum plant
File:Chrysanthemum × morifolium Dompierre 1.jpg, A chrysanthemum show
File:Chrysanthemum 02.jpg, Yellow Chrysanthemum.
File:Chrysanthemum 01.jpg, Purple Chrysanthemum
File:CHRYSANTHS MIXEDweb.jpg, Chrysanthamums, mixed, part of a display at Hampton Court Flower Show.
File:Chrysanthemum_2020.jpg, Garden in Kalimpong, India
See also
* Photoperiodism
References
Bibliography
;Books
*
*
*
*
*
* , ''see also'' Species Plantarum
;Articles
*
*
*
*
*
External links
*
*
Germplasm Resources Information Network: ''Chrysanthemum''
United States National Chrysanthemum Society website(scroll down for ''Chrysanthemum'')
* [http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7404.html University of California web page on aphid management]
{{Authority control
Chrysanthemum,
Asteraceae genera
Garden plants
Leaf vegetables
Medicinal plants
National symbols of Japan
Plants used in bonsai