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Blooming with Beauty and Purpose

As a member of the Asteraceae family, chrysanthemums are related to dahlias, sunflowers, marigolds, zinnias, cosmos and more.

Today's chrysanthemums are highly evolved flowers. The bloom, appearing as a single (colloquially called) flower, are actually multiple flowers called florets. Two kinds of florets are present in a single bloom - disk florets and ray florets. The outer (often longer) parts are the ray florets, and the inner (often shorter) eye parts are the disk florets.

The National Chrysanthemum Society classifies chrysanthemums into 13 classes as below.

Class 1 Irregular Incurve

These are the giant blooms of the chrysanthemum genus. The florets (petals) loosely curve inwards and make fully closed centers. The lower florets present an irregular appearance and may give a skirted effect.

Flower Size: AA is 7"+ ; A is 4-6"
Flower Characteristics: grown as a disbud; medium to tall height.

Class 2 Reflex

The florets in this class curve downward and overlap, similar to a bird's plumage. The tops of these blooms are full, but somewhat flattened.

Flower Size: AA is 8"+ ; A is 4-6" ; B is 3-4"
Flower Characteristics: grown as a disbud; medium height.

Class 3 Regular Incurve

A true globular bloom equal in breadth and depth. The florets smoothly incurve and form a regular ball.

Flower Size: A is 6"+ ; B is 4-6"
Flower Characteristic: grown as disbud

Class 4 Decorative

A flattened bloom with short petals. The center disk should not be visible. The upper florets tend to incurve, but the lower petals generally reflex.

Flower Size: A is 5"+ ; B is 3-5" ; C is <3"
Flower Characteristic: can be grown as disbud or spray

Class 5 Intermediate Incurve

This bloom class is smaller than the Class 1 Irregular Incurve, with shorter florets, only partially incurving with full centers, but giving a more open appearance.

Flower Size: A is 6"+ ; B is 4-6"
Flower Characteristic: grown as disbud