Ask your home and garden experts.

Mums are very popular and I know there are many different types. Are they a native North American plant or did they come from another country? Are they grown all over now or just in certain countries?

It's funny, because years ago when someone would say "mums" they would be referring to the large commercial mum that was used in funeral work. Mums developed a reputation for being a funeral flower. As the floral world progressed and we received more imported flowers, the image of the mum as a funeral flower changed due to the fact that there were so many varieties.

Today referring to a mum could mean one of a hundred different types of mums.

It was fascinating to find out that chrysanthemums, also known as "mums," appear to have originated in China in the 15th century B.C. as a flowering herb! They were considered to be such an exalted plant that only nobles were given permission to plant them in their gardens. This is why they can be found on some of the finest Chinese porcelains. The flower is also one of the four Junzis, the favourite plants of the influential poet Tao Qian (the others are prunus, orchid and bamboo) and is the symbol of nobility. An entire city was actually named after it: Chu-Hsien means chrysanthemum city.

This is all very surprising since mums are a very common flower and not associated with any sense of elitism at all today.

In the 8th century the flower was introduced in Japan where the Emperor raised it to the status of a national symbol.

This still applies today and the Japanese throne is often referred to as the chrysanthemum throne. This is because the thrones of emperors were completely covered in chrysanthemums.

The Japanese depict the chrysanthemum as a single flower with 16 rays, a symbol representing divine authority. In Japan chrysanthemums are seen as a symbol of longevity and good fortune. The chrysanthemum -- symbol of the sun -- also plays a significant part in the royal coat of arms. The Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum is the highest order of knighthood the Emperor can award; apparently the chrysanthemum is the only flower to be honoured in this way.

In China the flowers of the chrysanthemum are boiled to produce a sweet tea called Ju Hu Cha. It is reputed to have a cooling effect and is used on hot days and to treat fever. It is also said to speed up recovery from flu. The green leaves of chrysanthemum coronarium (Garland Chrysanthemum), are often stir-fried with garlic and red pepper. Most mums grown today are intended for decoration only.

In the 17th century chrysanthemums arrived in the West.

Jacob Layn, a Dutchman, brought it to the Netherlands for the first time in 1688. Then things get a little confusing. The flower was named by Carolus Linnaeus and means "gold flower" from the Greek "chrys" meaning "gold coloured" - a reference to the original colour of the flower - and "anthemon" meaning flower. Thus you get "chrysanthemon" which developed into what we use still today as chrysanthemum.

The word chrysanthemum is also used for a specific type of firework that shoots out a spray of sparks that look like the petals of the flower.

Who knew that this humble flower has been so popular and revered over time.

Today, mums are as popular as ever. There are so many varieties that I couldn't even get an idea of how many there actually are. Chrysanthemums are one of the flowers that are grown locally and a number of flower growers in Ontario are considering adding more mum crops since they are hardy and always sell well.

Mums are also grown in South America, Columbia being one of the largest growers in the world. South American producers tend to grow different colours and varieties compared to what our local growers produce. Holland is another country that grows a significant number of mums. They are also very active in promoting and upgrading the reputation of mums.

Because of their versatility and long-lasting qualities, mums are definitely a flower that will continue to be around for hundreds of years to come.

-- The staff at McCormick Florist & Gift Shoppe in Paris is offering a special service to its readers in this question and answer column covering topics from gardening to weddings. Feel free to write, call or e-mail McCormick with your questions. The address is 26 Mechanic St., Paris, N3L 1J9; the phone number is 442-4552. Send e-mail to [e-mail]. Please include your phone number and address.