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Chrysanthemum indicum /kɹɪˈsænθəməm/

Common name: Indian chrysanthemum · Small-flowered chrysanthemum · Ye ju hua

Chrysanthemum indicum is a herbaceous perennial native to East Asia, especially China and Japan, where it grows on slopes, riverbanks, and thickets. Despite its epithet, it is not native to India; Linnaeus named it from material thought to come from the East Indies. It bears masses of small, daisy-like yellow or white flower heads in autumn over deeply lobed, aromatic foliage. It is a major parent of the modern garden chrysanthemum and is also grown for its edible flowers used in teas and traditional Chinese medicine.

Fun facts

  • Its flowers are dried and brewed into a popular herbal tea in China and Korea.
  • The species is one of the principal ancestors of the thousands of modern garden chrysanthemum cultivars.
  • Linnaeus coined the name "indicum" in 1753, mistakenly believing the plant came from the East Indies.
  • In traditional Chinese medicine the wild form (ye ju hua) has long been used as a cooling herb.

Care summary

Sun Full sun to light shade
Water Moderate; drought-tolerant once established
Soil Well-drained, fertile; tolerates poor soils
Hardiness Zones 4–9
Mature height About 30–100 cm (1–3 ft)
Pet safe No; toxic to cats and dogs
Difficulty Moderate
Propagation Propagate by softwood cuttings in spring or by division of established clumps. Take 8-10 cm cuttings from non-flowering shoots, remove the lower leaves, and root them in a moist, gritty compost with bottom warmth.

Make your own Indian chrysanthemum · Small-flowered chrysanthemum · Ye ju hua profile

Common problems

    • Space plants for good air circulation
    • Water at the base, not overhead
    • Remove and bin affected leaves promptly
    • Blast aphids off with water
    • Apply insecticidal soap to infested tips
    • Encourage ladybirds and lacewings nearby
    • Remove infected leaves immediately
    • Avoid wetting foliage when watering
    • Destroy heavily infected plants entirely
    • Pinch out growing tips in early summer
    • Stake tall varieties before flowering
    • Grow in full sun for sturdy stems