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Our world-class chrysanthemum collection features primarily cultivars and hybrids developed in Japan and China … and a rare Japanese book recently acquired by the Longwood Library reflects the beauty and the long-standing importance of the chrysanthemum to Japanese culture.

Often referred to as “viewing stones," suiseki involves the appreciation of naturally occurring stones for their aesthetic qualities and their resemblance to natural landscapes, from mountains to waterfalls, animals to islands. We are honored to steward these pieces and share their artistry—and their story.

This year’s Thousand Bloom of Chrysanthemum × morifolium ‘Susono-no-Hikari’ started its journey as a vegetative cutting 18 months ago—and today is not only a sight to behold, but a culminating example of the unchanging beauty and art of people and plants working together.

This imaginative display serves as the largest and oldest of its kind in North America, and it’s a spectacular time of year in which we stretch our horticultural limits to put on a colorful show for our guests.

Here at Longwood, we always look forward to our annual Chrysanthemum Festival for so many reasons … it’s a chance for us not only to put on a colorful show of rare and beloved cultivars, but also a way for us to stretch our horticultural limits and proudly share with you the fruits of that labor.

Cherished for their exquisite beauty, rich hues, and delightfully distinct variations, chrysanthemums are in a class—or rather 13 classes—all their own.

Over the past 11 months, Longwood horticulturists have meticulously trained their chrysanthemum bonsai in preparation for Chrysanthemum Festival. The result is a collection of more than 90 beautiful plants, which can be viewed on a rotating basis through November 18, 2018.

At Longwood Gardens, we start planning for our Chrysanthemum Festival more than a year ahead of our display. At our July 2017 planning meeting for this year’s display, Longwood’s Associate Director, Display Design Jim Sutton brought with him a photo of a mum grown into the shape of a Japanese handheld fan. Jim suggested we try to grow one of our own here at Longwood, and our work began.

This year, 230,000 chrysanthemum blooms fill our 4-acre Conservatory in forms of cascades, shields, spirals, pagodas and of course, our most impressive Thousand Bloom Mum yet, featuring 1,515 blooms.