Most popular cut flowers - the chrysanthemum

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I’ve done discussions on three of the most popular cut flowers worldwide. The rose came in as #1, the carnation #2 and now #3 is the chrysanthemum. Don’t worry. I’m not going to do the 100 most popular, just the top five. And I’ve already done #5, the gerbera. Chrysanthemums are native to East Asia and north-eastern Europe. There are numerous cultivars and varieties, with an estimated 20,000 cultivars in the world. The name is derived from the Ancient Greek: chrysos (gold) and anthemon (flower). They were first cultivated in China as a flowering herb and some forms are boiled or steamed to use in various dishes. There are two basic groups: garden hardy and exhibition, the latter often requiring staking and, in general, more care. Chrysanthemums can even be trained as bonsais. Other interesting points: • It is the city flower of Beijing and Kaifeng. • Hundreds of Chinese poems feature the chrysanthemum. • In Imperial Japan, the chrysanthemum is a symbol of the Emporer and the Imperial family. Small arms were considered the personal property of the Emporer and had to be stamped with the imperial chrysanthemum. • In Australia, the chrysanthemum is strongly associated with Mothers’ Day. • In 1966, the chrysanthemum was recognised as the official flower of Chicago. • It is the official flower of Salinas, California. • In some countries, certain types of chrysanthemums are associated with death and mourning. Photo courtesy: Sridhar Rao, <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0> And here is a smile for the morning: Elevator music annoys me on so many levels.