can anyone tell me if this plant is a mum. It is in bloom now and has been for about 2 weeks. Unlike my other mums, it is about 3' tall with about 8 thick stems. The leaves are very similar to that of a mum.
Is it normal for certain types of mums to get this tall, with only a few stalks or because it was not pinched back this year did it just get tall and straggly. Should I pinch it back next year to encourage a bushier plant?
Should be more than a few stalks. Tall habit is normal, most kinds are not cushion types with a low habit. Those you see with large flowers on short stems offered for sale growing in pots at flower shops and floral departments have been treated with height retardant. In the garden pinching can be used to promote branching and reduce final height. Just be sure to discontinue it in time for flower buds to be set. Note also that with large-flowered types the big bloom is the point and it may be preferable to instead stake the stems and actually pinch out some flower buds (instead of growing tips) in order to produce a reduced number of fully developed flowerheads.
