Mum Renaissance

A Virginia farm is bringing back American heirloom mums—and redefining the fall classic for gardeners everywhere.

- MIKE IRVINE

For many gardeners, chrysanthemums are a fall savior, filling gaps where summer blooms have faded and brightening patios as the days grow shorter. But what if those familiar mounds of mums found at garden centers only scratch the surface of what’s possible for this flower with a more vibrant and varied history?

Enter The Mum Project. Spearheaded by family-run Harmony Harvest Farm in Weyers Cave, VA, the project is reviving hundreds of varieties of lesser-known heirloom mums, selling them as both plants and cut flowers to the public. “Passed down for centuries through families and communities, these are old spider mums and football mums in colors that absolutely vibrate,” says cofounder and flower farmer Jessica Hall.