Bay Area Chrysanthemum Society
Chrysanthemum Photos by Class
Today's Chrysanthemums are highly evolved flowering plants. A member of the Asteraceae Compositae family, the Chrysanthemum is related to dahlias, sunflowers, marigolds, zinnias, and cosmos.
The bloom, appearing as a single flower, is actually hundreds of flowers called florets. Two kinds of florets are present in a single bloom, disk florets and ray florets. For example, in the daisy-type chrysanthemum (class 7 below) each type of floret is easy to see – the outer parts are ray florets and the center or eye is composed of disk florets. The National Chrysanthemum Society classifies bloom forms into 13 classes as below.
Class 1 Irregular Incurve
These are the giant blooms of the chrysanthemum genus. The florets (petals) loosely incurve and make fully closed centers. The lower florets present an irregular appearance and may give a skirted effect. Class 1, Irregular Incurve, is the giant of the chrysanthemum family. Their form curves in, presenting a loose, irregular appearance. Many contain skirted rows of petals (florets). They are best disbudded.
1A, Color LB, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
1(2)AA, Color LB/Y, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
1A, Color P, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
1A, Color W/PP, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
1A, Color W/PP, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
1A, Color Y, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
1(2)AA, Color B, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
1A, Color Y, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
1A, Color LB, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
1A, Color P, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
Class 2 Reflex
The florets in this class curve downward and overlap, similar to bird plumage. The tops of these blooms are full, but somewhat flattened. Flower Size: 4-6 inches. Flower Characteristics: Grown as a disbud, plant medium height. Size range: AA, over 8 inches; A, 6 to 4
inches; B, 4 to 6 inches.
2A, Color Y, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
2(4)B, Color B, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
2A, Color LB, Early blooming by Sep 30.
2AA, Color LB, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
1(2)A, Color Y, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
2A, Color P, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
2A, Color R, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
2B, Color Pu, Early blooming by Sep 30.
2B, Color Pu, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
2B, Color P, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
Class 3 Regular Incurve
A true globular bloom equal in breadth and depth. The florets smoothly incurve and form a regular ball. Size range: A, over 6 inches; B, 4 to 6 inches.
5(3)A, Color B, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
3A, Color Y, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
5(3)A, Color Y, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
3(5)B, Color Y, Early blooming by Sep 30.
3A, Color B, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
3(5)A, Color W, Early blooming by Sep 30.
3B, Color B, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
3B, Color W, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
3B, Color W, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
3B, Color P, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
Class 4 Decorative
4A, Color P, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
4B, Color Pu, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
4B, Color R, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
4A, Color Y, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
4(10)A, Color P, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
4B, Color R, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
4B, Color W, Early blooming by Sep 30.
4(2)A, Color R, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
4(2)B, Color B, Early blooming by Sep 30.
4B, Color Y, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
A flattened bloom with short petals. As in the above classes, the center disk should not be visible. The upper florets tend to incurve, but the lower petals generally reflex. Size range: A, over 5 inches; B, 3 to 5 inches; C, under 3 inches.
Class 5 Intermediate Incurve
This bloom class is smaller than the irregular incurve, with shorter florets, only partially incurving with full centers, but giving a more open appearance. Size range: A, over 6
inches; B, 4 to 6 inches.
5A, Color P, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
5A, Color L:B, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
5A, Color Y, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
5A, Color B, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
5A, Color W, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
5A, Color P, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
5B, Color P, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
5A, Color W/G, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
5A, Color B, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
5A, Color B, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
A small globular bloom, somewhat flat when young but fully rounded when mature, Size ranges from small button types to large disbudded blooms almost 4" in diameter. The florets incurve or reflex in a regular manner and fully conceal the center.
6B, Color Y, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
6C, Color Y, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
6B, Color P, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
6C, Color Y, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
6B, Color W/G, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
6A, Color Pu, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
6B, Color B, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
6C, Color Y, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
6C, Color P, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
6C, Color P, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
Class 6 Pompon
Class 7 Single/Semi-double
A daisy-like flower with a center disk and one or more rows of ray petals.
Size Range: A, over 4 inches; B, 2 to 4 inches; C, under 2 inches.
7B, Color Pu, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
7A, Color R, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
7C, Color Y, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
7C, Color W, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
7A, Color R, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
7(2)A, Color R, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
7A, Color P, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
7A, Color Y, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
7A, Color W, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
Class 8 Anemone
8B, Color Y, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
8B, Color W, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
8C, Color Pu, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
8A, Color B, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
8C, Color Pu, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
8C, Color B, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
8A, Color Y, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
8A, Color B, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec
8B, Color W, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
8B, Color Pu, Mid blooing, 10/1 to 10/22.
These blooms are similar to the semi-doubles, but have a raised cushion-like center. Size range: A, over 4 inches; B, 2 to 4 inches; C, under 2 inches.
Class 9 Spoons
9A, Color R, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
9C, Color P, Early blooming by Sep 30.
9B, Color R, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
9C, Color Y, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
9A, Color Y, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
9A, Color P, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
9(10)A, Color Pu, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
9A, Color R, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
Essentially the same as the semi-double, except the ray florets are like spoons at the tips. The center disk is round and visible. Size range: A, over 4 inches; B, 2 to 4 inches; C, under 2 inches.
10/13B, W/G, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
10A, Y, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
10A, Color P, Mid blooming, Oct 1 to Oct 22
10(13)A, Color R, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec
10(11)A, Color P, Mid blooming, Oct 1 to Oct 22
10A, Color P, Mid blooming, Oct 1 to Oct 22
10A, Color B/Y, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec
10A, Color PU, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec
10A, Color B, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec
10B, Color Y, Mid blooming, Oct 1 to Oct 22
Class 10 Quill
The florets in the class are straight and tubular with open tips. The bloom is fully double with no open center. Size range: A, over 6 inches; B, 4 to 6 inches; C, under 4 inches.enter.
Class 11 Spiders
11A, Color W, Mid blooming, Oct 1 to Oct 22
11A, Color W, Mid blooming, Oct 1 to Oct 22
11A, Color P, Mid blooming, Oct 1 to Oct 22
11A, Color B,Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec
11A, Color Y, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec
11A, Color Pu, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec
11A, Color Y, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec
11A, Color P, Mid blooming, Oct 1 to Oct 22
11A, Color Y, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec
11A, Color B, Mid blooming, Oct 1 to Oct 22
Spiders have long tubular florets which may coil Or hook at the ends. The florets may be very fine to coarse. Size range: A, over 6 inches; B, 4 to 6 inches.
Class 12 Brush and Thistle
12C, Color Pu, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
12C, Color Pu, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
12C, Color P, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
12B, Color Y, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
12C, Color PY, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
12C, Color R, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
12C, Color B, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
12C, Color W, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
12C, Color P, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
Fine tubular florets which grow parallel to the stem and resemble an artist's paintbrush or in the thistle form the florets are flattened, twisted, and drooping, forming B-sized blooms from 2 to 4 inches in diameter.
Class 13 Exotic or Unclassified
These blooms do not fit in any of the other classes. They are often exotic with twisted florets. They may also exhibit characteristics of more than one bloom class. Size range: A, over 6 inches; B, 4 to 6 inches; C, under 4 inches.
8(13)C, Color W, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
13B, Color Y, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
13B, Color Y, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
13B, Color R, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
13A, Color R/B, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
13B, Color R, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
8(13)B, Color Y, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.
13A, Color W/G, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
13A, Color Y, Late blooming Oct 23 to Dec.
13(2)A, Color Pu, Mid blooming, 10/1 to 10/22.