Chrysanthemums ( Chrysanthemum spp . ) and dahlias ( Dahlia spp . ) belong to the same category of flowering plants , but they have distinct characteristics that make them suitable to very dissimilar roles in the garden .
One of the most commonly grownChrysanthemumspecies is thegarden mum(Chrysanthemum morifolium ) , also often call a hardy ma ; it is widely crop as fall - bloom ornamental for both garden and container growing .
The dahlias most commonly grown in gardens today are descendants ofpinnate dahlia(Dahlia pinnata ) , a indigen of central Mexico .
Winter Hardiness
fearless mums , as their common name suggests , are capable to live on winters in relatively cold climates . They are generally winter hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture industrial plant hardiness zone 5 to 9 , although in cold climates they may not return reliably and are often grown as annuals . Dahlias , in compare , are much more affectionate and are winter hardy only in USDA zone 7 to 10 .
Dahlias may be grow in climates colder than USDA zone 7 , but in those clime , the tubers must be lifted in the gloam and store over the wintertime . Sometimes gardeners in warm climate lift the tubers as well because the dormant menstruation the tubers experience while store sometimes increases flush production the next season .
Growth Habit
Garden mums tend to be compact plants , growing in mound cluster ranging between 1 and 3 feet in height and open to a similar width . Dahlia species and cultivar depart widely in height , but larger varieties can reach height of up to 6 feet . The industrial plant have an upright growth habit , and magniloquent diverseness ordinarily ask support from interest or cage to keep them from falling over .
Flower Forms and Bloom Time
Both Dahlia pinnata and Dendranthema grandifloruom cultivar produce flowers that take issue substantially from cultivar to cultivar in terms of size , gloss and form . Dahlia bloom are perhaps more diverse , and cultivar are relegate into 10 distinct chemical group based on their flush strain . The bloom of both dahlias or mama may be either single or three-fold .
Garden mommy flowers are typically about 2 3/8 inches in diameter , and the flora flower prolifically from former declivity until the first frost . Dahlia bloom may be as minuscule as 1/2 inch in diameter or , in the case of " dinner party home " varieties , up to a foot astray . In world-wide , dahlias blooming from mid - summertime to fall .
Site Requirements
Both dahlias and Chrysanthemum morifolium prefer moist , well - drain soil that ’s rich in nutrients . Mums flower best when grown in full sun , but they can permit light shadiness . They do well when harbour from the afternoon Sunday in warm weather . Dahlias may also benefit from relief from afternoon heat when temperatures are above 90 academic degree Fahrenheit , but they execute best when planted in a placement that gets at least eight to 10 hours of full sun each day .
