Chrysanthemums captivate with their intricate beauty, rich hues, and remarkable diversity. Divided into 13 classifications, each flower is a masterpiece of hundreds of delicate florets.
Chrysanthemums have been prominently displayed for generations at Longwood and remain central to our autumn programming. Our collection features historic Asian cultivars—primarily Japanese—used in bonsai, cascade, doll, and thousand bloom techniques, making it one of the most significant collections of its kind. Longwood houses one of North America's largest and oldest chrysanthemum collections, with more than 200 different cultivars, and all thirteen classes of mums as classified by the National Chrysanthemum Society, represented. Maintained as virus-free through apical meristem culture, this collection upholds a legacy of display, research, heritage, and germplasm preservation functions.
Curator: Patti Stefanick
Watch Now: Unraveling the Complexities of Our Chrysanthemum Festival
Hear from Longwood’s Associate Vice President of Science, Kate Santos, Ph.D., as she explains the history and science behind the Chrysanthemum Festival and all that goes into this spectacular season.
Hear from Longwood’s Associate Vice President of Science, Kate Santos, Ph.D., as she explains the history and science behind the Chrysanthemum Festival and all that goes into this spectacular season.
