September is the time when gardens start to change from summer to fall.

Many gardeners choose chrysanthemums.

But most of the ones sold in pots are the classic "cushion" type.

There are other interesting choices for people who want something different.

There are about 40 wild chrysanthemum species.

Breeders have made hundreds of thousands of varieties.

The National Chrysanthemum Society puts them into 13 groups by flower shape.

Many of these are too delicate for outdoor gardens.

So they are not sold in many places.

Perennial mums come back every year.

This happens if you plant them early enough.

They need time to grow roots before frost.

Gardeners should not buy "florist mums" in foil-wrapped pots.

Those are for one season only.

Look at the plant tag to check hardiness in your area.

Cushion mums are small and round.

They bloom for four to six weeks.

They usually grow well in zones 5-9.

Daisy mums look like daisies.

They have a flat center and petals.

They also grow well in zones 5-9.

Fuji mums, or spider mums, have long, curved petals.

They bloom from early November.

They are mostly hardy to zone 5.

Homecoming mums, or Football mums, are the biggest and showiest.

They have huge, dense flowers.

They grow as perennials in zones 5-9.

These last two types are often found at special plant stores or in catalogs.