Peach Centerpiece Chrysanthemum

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New Chrysanthemums from the University of Minnesota Department of Horticultural Science

Neil Anderson, Peter Ascher, Neal Eash, Vince Fritz, Esther Gesick,
Jim Hebel, Steve Poppe, Roger Wagner, Brad Walvatne, Dave Wildung*

Copyright © 2001 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
'Peach Centerpiece' and 'Sesquicentennial Sun' are the newest garden chrysanthemum releases from the renowned University of Minnesota herbaceous perennial breeding program.

'Peach Centerpiece' is a spontaneous mutation of 'Centerpiece' with moderately high winter hardiness, and above-average frost tolerance of its peach color flower petals.

'Sesquicentennial Sun', gold as "Goldie Gopher," provides completely frost tolerant flower petals, extended flowering, moderate winter hardiness, and strong stems.

Peach Centerpiece
'Peach Centerpiece' was found by Brad Walvatne, Lake Country Gardens, Battle Lake, Minnesota, and offered for release to the University of Minnesota. It is the 76th chrysanthemum released by the University of Minnesota breeding program. Its 'Centerpiece' parent was released in 1982.

'Peach Centerpiece' is a vigorous, uniform plant that usually begins blooming in the first week of September and continues until a killing frost. It is in the seven-week short day response group, and is a mid-season cultivar. Flower petals of 'Peach Centerpiece' possess above average frost resistance.

'Peach Centerpiece' produces a thick canopy of 4-inch (10 cm) peach-colored, single quill flowers with gold centers on plants 20 inches (50 cm) wide and 24 to 26 inches (60 to 65 cm) high. Dark green foliage, long stems, and an upright plant habit make 'Peach Centerpiece' a good cut flower cultivar.

'Peach Centerpiece' is suitable for pot plant culture and can be programmed to flower for spring and fall sales. It can also be grown as an herbaceous perennial, with moderately high winter hardiness. In replicated field trials without mulch or winter protection at University of Minnesota Research and Outreach Centers, winter survival averaged 80 percent in USDA Zone 4 in 1999.

To maximize winter survival, mulch the crown of 'Peach Centerpiece' in northern growing regions. Planting young, non-flowering specimens in the flower border in late spring or early summer is also recommended.

Spring flowering potted specimens purchased for Mother's Day or other spring holidays can be planted in the garden for fall flowering. Blooming plants purchased in pots late in the summer or early fall can be used to decorate patios and window boxes, and may then be plunged into the ground in pots or planted in a flower bed (pots removed) when summer blooming plants are no longer decorative.

Copyright © 2001 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.