Cold hardiness & minimum temperature

Is Chrysanthemum 'Emperor of China' (Chrysanthemum 'Emperor of China')cold hardy? Hardiness zone & min temp

Also called Emperor of China Chrysanthemum, Old Clove Pink Mum, Rubellum Chrysanthemum.

More about chrysanthemum 'emperor of china'

About Chrysanthemum 'Emperor of China'

Chrysanthemum 'Emperor of China' · also called Emperor of China Chrysanthemum, Old Clove Pink Mum · flowering

Chrysanthemum 'Emperor of China' is an heirloom rubellum-type chrysanthemum with double, silvery-pink flowers borne on upright stems from late autumn into early winter. The foliage turns crimson-red in cold weather, adding seasonal interest. Toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.

Cold limit: USDA 5-9 · RHS H6 (5-18°C)

Watch for — Crown rot: Excessive winter moisture is the main threat; ensure good drainage and apply a protective bark mulch over the crown after the top growth dies back.

What chrysanthemum 'emperor of china''s hardiness rating actually means

Yes — chrysanthemum 'emperor of china' is genuinely cold hardy. Rated RHS H6 and USDA 5-9, it lives outdoors all year and needs winter cold rather than protection from it. Its RHS rating of H6 means: Hardy throughout the UK and northern Europe. On the US scale that maps to USDA 5-9 — the zones where it can be left outdoors year-round.

New to these scales? The USDA hardiness zone map explained covers how the zone numbers work, and you can find your own zone with the zone finder.

Minimum temperature — and what happens below it

Minimum survivable temperature is roughly about −20 to −15 °C. Chrysanthemum 'Emperor of China' is built for winter — once established it takes hard frost and snow in its stride.

Concretely, for chrysanthemum 'emperor of china' as it gets too cold:

It tolerates winter lows to about −20 to −15 °C once established.
Below its rated zone, the visible damage is browned or blackened top growth and, in the worst case, a killed crown or root.
First-year, newly planted, or container-grown specimens are noticeably less hardy than established garden plants — the roots are exposed.

Can chrysanthemum 'emperor of china' go outside or overwinter — and where?

Plant it out within USDA 5-9 and it overwinters with little or no help.
It does not want to come indoors — a warm winter room actually weakens a hardy plant by denying it dormancy.
The real risks in its range are waterlogging, wind-rock on young plants, and a late hard frost on new growth — not ordinary winter cold.

Work back from your local frost dates with the frost-date calculator: the last spring frost and first autumn frost are what really decide when chrysanthemum 'emperor of china' can be outside. US growers can check USDA zones; UK growers should use the RHS hardiness ratings, which match the H6 figure above.

Chrysanthemum 'Emperor of China' hardiness — frequently asked questions

Is chrysanthemum 'emperor of china' cold hardy?

Yes — chrysanthemum 'emperor of china' is genuinely cold hardy. Rated RHS H6 and USDA 5-9, it lives outdoors all year and needs winter cold rather than protection from it. An outdoor plant. Chrysanthemum 'Emperor of China' is hardy across USDA 5-9; it belongs in the ground or a frost-proof container, not on a windowsill, and many types actively need a cold winter to perform.

What is the minimum temperature chrysanthemum 'emperor of china' can survive?

Minimum survivable temperature is roughly about −20 to −15 °C. Chrysanthemum 'Emperor of China' is built for winter — once established it takes hard frost and snow in its stride.

What hardiness zone is chrysanthemum 'emperor of china'?

Chrysanthemum 'Emperor of China' is rated USDA 5-9 and RHS H6 — Hardy throughout the UK and northern Europe.

Can chrysanthemum 'emperor of china' survive winter outside?

Plant it out within USDA 5-9 and it overwinters with little or no help. It does not want to come indoors — a warm winter room actually weakens a hardy plant by denying it dormancy. The real risks in its range are waterlogging, wind-rock on young plants, and a late hard frost on new growth — not ordinary winter cold.

What happens to chrysanthemum 'emperor of china' below its minimum temperature?

It tolerates winter lows to about −20 to −15 °C once established. Below its rated zone, the visible damage is browned or blackened top growth and, in the worst case, a killed crown or root. First-year, newly planted, or container-grown specimens are noticeably less hardy than established garden plants — the roots are exposed.