Chrysanthemum indicum 'Louis Germ White'

RHS Plant Profile
chrysanthemum 'Louis Germ White'

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Herbaceous Perennial

An erect, woody-based, deciduous perennial, producing stems to 90cm (3ft) high and a spread of 50cm (20in), with deeply divided, dark-green aromatic leaves. In late summer and autumn, the plants produce sprays of fully-double, white flowers with a lemon yellow centre created by the new unfurling petals. The flowers are long lasting in water and are ideal to grow for cutting. The plants are winter hardy throughout most of the UK, but if grown in colder areas, are best heavily mulched over winter, or lifted after flowering and kept in cold, but frost-free conditions until spring.

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam, Sand, Clay

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.5-1 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand Clay
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H4

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower Foliage
Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Asteraceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy, Clump forming
Potentially harmful
Skin allergen. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Genus
Chrysanthemum are erect woody-based perennials with aromatic, pinnately lobed leaves and flowerheads of diverse form, from late summer to late autumn
Name Status
Unresolved

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in a well-drained, fertile, moisture-retentive soil in full sun. In cool regions, lift the plants in autumn, before the first frosts and store the crowns in trays of just moist compost in frost-free conditions until spring. In areas where temperatures fall no lower than -5˚C (23˚F) in winter, plants may be left in the ground and protected by a thick mulch over winter, carefully removing this in spring, after the risk of frosts has passed.

Propagation

Propagate by basal softwood cuttings from overwintered stools in late winter or early spring. Cuttings should be rooted in a peat-free compost the surface of which is covered with dry sand and kept in a temperature of 16°C. Place in a cold frame after first rooting and protect from frost. Harden off in mid spring. Established clumps may be propagated by division in spring.

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Cut flowers
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Once flowering is over in late autumn, cut the whole plant down to 20cm (8in) tall.

Pests

May be susceptible to capsid bug, earwigs, chrysanthemum eelworm, aphids, chrysanthemum leaf miner and glasshouse red spider mite

Diseases

May be susceptible to glasshouse grey mould, powdery mildews and chrysanthemum white rust