Chrysanthemum x morifolium carries five Chinese species in its ancestry — C. argyrophyllum, C. dichrum, C. indicum, C. nankingense, and C. zawadzkii — and the complexity of that lineage shows in the hundreds of cultivars that have descended from it. The hybrid epithet, meaning 'mulberry leaf,' refers to the lobed foliage rather than the flowers, which are anything but monolithic: incurved globes, spidery thread-like rays, tight pompons, and anemone-centered forms all fall under this name, unified by their autumn flowering and their usefulness as cut flowers. The edible flowers range from warm brownish coppers and pale pastels to bright yellows, sometimes solid, sometimes bicolored or edged in a second tone.

In the South these plants overwinter outdoors with minimal fuss. In colder climates they may need to be lifted and stored under cover. Across the range, three cuts during spring and summer — with the last no later than mid-August — keep plants compact, bushy, and reliably fall-blooming rather than opening prematurely in spring. Full sun and well-drained soil give the best results, with some afternoon shade warranted in the hottest climates. Late-season butterflies will find the flowers useful long after much of the garden has gone quiet.