Asked on Oct 04, 2017

How do I prevent my white mums from changing to light purple?

Janice Hnat
by Janice Hnat
I planted them as white blooming plants this fall and now they are turning purple. Every time I plant white mums they change. What am I doing wrong?

  8 answers
  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Oct 04, 2017

    It's the Bees............+ the Soil ?

  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Oct 04, 2017

    you can't.sometimes buds often seem like one color but in reality they are not

  • Garden lady Garden lady on Oct 04, 2017

    You're not doing anything wrong.. I've had white mums all my life (and I'm old). As they age, they pink or purple up.. yes, I'd like them to stay white, but we are not doing anything wrong..

  • Diana Deiley Diana Deiley on Oct 04, 2017

    Check with your local nursery about ph soil factor. Maybe there is something you can add to the soil. I've seen mums turn colors, so I'm not positive, but hope everything works out for you. Best of luck.

  • Brigitta Jackson Brigitta Jackson on May 21, 2020

    age as they get older they change colour

    ph level in the soil

    and cold when the cold nights come they change.

    all good. your doing great. mother nature putting her hand in.

  • Larry Schroder Larry Schroder on Aug 25, 2020

    I have a bunch of them, they get very big now after a couple years ..... but they all have turned light purple.


    This year I am keeping them in bigger pots, and burying the entire plastic pot to keep the soil/Ph intact .... maybe that will keep the colors the way I bought them


  • Deb K Deb K on Aug 08, 2021

    Hello, hope this helps you out, Some mums change colors that way naturally as the blossoms age.


    All newly planted mums require careful attention to soil preparation and watering or they may wilt. This is especially true, however, with those that are very potbound when purchased. In some cases, too, they are used to daily watering at the gorwers and it is difficult for them to adjust to growing under garden conditions.


    For the above reasons some people consider mums to be the equivalent of cut flowers -- a pretty but ephemeral decoration. If you are planning to grow them as perennials your best bet is to purchase them as early in the season as possible (spring is best if you can find them) so they can become well established before undergoing the stresses of blooming and winter weather.