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14 Blooming Surprises: Unveiling Fun Facts About Chrysanthemums You Never Knew!

illustration of chrysanthemums
Dive into the colorful world of chrysanthemums and discover the blooming secrets behind these captivating flowers with our collection of fun facts!

1. Emotional Blooms

Chrysanthemums, Japan's all-star flower, can't help but wear their heart on their petals: from the passionate reds to the everlasting pinks, they're quite the emotional bloom. But don't expect them to dabble in fortune-telling or predict your fate at the cherry blossom festival: different colors of chrysanthemums symbolize various emotions and concepts in Japanese culture, with pink representing longevity and red signifying love and passion, though they hold no power in predicting future prosperity.
Source => sakura.co

2. Emperor's Cheat Code

In a game of "pin the petal on the chrysanthemum," the Emperor of Japan had the ultimate cheat code with his fancy 16-petalled imperial seal: The chrysanthemum is not only the national flower of Japan, but also the emblem of the Imperial family, with the Emperor being the only one allowed to use the exact 16-petalled version, while his relatives had their own unique modifications.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

3. Allergen Tea Party

Ever thought of having a tea party with flowers? It's blooming marvelous: sipping on chrysanthemum tea not only tickles your taste buds, but it also packs a punch with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fatty acids that show potential in preventing cancer. Just a friendly heads up for the allergenic crowd - if ragweed, daisies, or marigolds make you sneeze, sip with caution as chrysanthemums are part of that petal posse.
Source => the-qi.com

4. Floral Tea Time Darling

Feeling a little bloomy and craving a spot of tea? Look no further than the chrysanthemum, nature's very own tea time darling: For over 3000 years, this floral beauty has been cultivated not just for its vibrant presence in gardens, but also for its medicinal properties – in traditional Chinese culture, chrysanthemum tea is believed to promote longevity and improve eyesight. Time to sip, see, and live long!
Source => chinafetching.com

Chrysanthemum Remedies

5. Chrysanthemum Remedies

Move over, chamomile - chrysanthemum wants to take a "sip" of the spotlight in the quest for natural remedies: Chrysanthemum tea, a staple in traditional Chinese medicine, is believed to have health benefits like clearing internal heat and reducing fever, with dried petals even being used as a pillow stuffing thought to improve eyesight, despite a lack of scientific evidence to support these claims.
Source => tagconfucius.com

6. Japanese Flower Power

You might say that chrysanthemums are the true "flower power" of Japan, reigning over even the cherry blossoms in their royal status: These floral VIPs serve as the official emblem of the Japanese imperial family and grace official documents such as passports, while the highest honor given to a Japanese citizen is called the Order of Chrysanthemum.
Source => houseplantcentral.com

7. Nature's Bouncers

Chrysanthemums: nature's bouncers, politely telling pesky insects to buzz off and find another party to crash! With their colorful blooms and eye-catching appearance, these floral wonders pack a secret punch: they contain pyrethrins, a powerful mix of six chemicals that make them biological weapons against bothersome bugs like mosquitoes, fleas, and ants, making them a go-to choice for eco-friendly pest control.
Source => npic.orst.edu

8. Sight-Saving Petals

If your eyes have been feeling strained from counting all those riches hidden under your mattress, chrysanthemums might just become your new best friend as they blossom into the ultimate sight-saving power-up: These cheerful flowers have been cherished in traditional Chinese medicine for ages, as chrysanthemum tea is known to ease fevers, mild headaches, and even nourish tired eyes, making it the real deal in natural remedies, unlike the tall tale of a petal promising prosperity in one's pocket.
Source => floraqueen.com

9. Flyswatter Flowers

Who needs a flyswatter when you've got some fabulous chrysanthemums? Seriously, these floral wonder-workers have been saving dinner parties from unwanted insects since before it was cool: Interestingly, chrysanthemums have been used as a natural insecticide for centuries, and even NASA identified them as one of the top plants for purifying indoor air pollution, giving them a stellar reputation in both gardening and space exploration circles.
Source => petalrepublic.com

Festival of Happiness

10. Festival of Happiness

Did you know the Japanese imperial family loved flowers before it was even cool? They've got a thing for chrysanthemums and even throw an annual bash to celebrate their blooming awesomeness: In fact, National Chrysanthemum Day, also known as the Festival of Happiness, is held on September 9, marking the first chrysanthemum show in 910 AD which commemorates the enduring relation between Japan's culture and this legendary flower.
Source => news.cgtn.com

11. Peeper-Powered Petals

Feeling a tad "peepered out" after bingeing your favorite show or scrolling ad nauseam? Don't squint out of desperation; try embracing inner flower power instead: Chrysanthemum tea is a centuries-old remedy in Traditional Chinese Medicine, packed with antioxidants and flavonoids to not only improve eyesight but also alleviate redness, irritation, and eyestrain. Cheers to petal-powered peepers!
Source => the-qi.com

12. Multicultural Mum Tea

Move over, chamomile: Chrysanthemums have been spilling the tea for centuries, just ask the Chinese, Koreans, and Japanese! Seriously though: Chrysanthemums possess anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, making them popular in traditional Chinese and Korean medicine for respiratory issues, fever, digestion, and improved eyesight. In fact, Japan dedicates an entire national holiday – Chrysanthemum Day or the Festival of Happiness – to this multifaceted flower.
Source => sun-sentinel.com

13. Headache-Healing Mums

If chrysanthemums could talk, they'd say, "Leaf us alone, we've got a headache!" But little would we know, they might just hold the cure: Chrysanthemums have long been cultivated for their medicinal properties, including anti-inflammatory and calming effects, and are traditionally used in Chinese medicine as ingredients for teas and alcohol infusions to treat ailments such as high blood pressure, fever, and headaches.
Source => kikkoman.com

14. Minding Your Mums

Get ready to mind your Mums and not your manners, as we dive into the wild world of Chrysanthemums: These spectacular blooms boast over 200 varieties and can be grown with ease in a plethora of climates, just be sure to check each variety's specific needs to guarantee some showstopping germination.
Source => pthorticulture.com

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