Mum's the word: here's a secret. This favorite fall flower is much more than a haystack sidekick.

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A long with falling leaves and carved pumpkins, one of autumn's most indelible images is that of blooming golden chrysanthemums perched on a front porch. For years, homeowners have sought this faithful old flower to brighten their landscapes when colorful summer gardens began to fade.

Its name literally meaning "gold flower," the chrysanthemum was first grown in ancient times by the Chinese for its herbal benefits, including curing headaches and producing a fragrant tea. "If you would be happy for a lifetime, grow chrysanthemums," said a Chinese philosopher. The earliest mums were small and resembled daisies, but as European growers embraced the flowers, they developed hundreds of new colors, sizes, and shapes.

American colonists brought mums across the Atlantic, and perhaps ever since the first Thanksgiving, the plants have been an autumn favorite. But even the most seasoned home gardeners might be surprised to learn that there's still more to know about this popular perennial. Armed with a few important mum-growing secrets, even those seeking a completely new take on the autumn landscape will be falling for its versatile beauty.

The first secret every flower lover should know is that it's easy to find room in the fall garden for mums. Their non-spreading nature means they won't require a large growing spot. In fact, these plants don't need to be placed in the ground at all--more mums are grown in pots than any other plant in the United States, so it's easy to tuck them into even a concrete-covered backyard. Once cut, mums are one of the longest-lasting flowers in arrangements. Their longevity might explain why mums are often transformed into streamer-laden corsages at homecoming football games--these pretty pompons will still be perky long after the ones held by cheerleaders go limp.

Another big secret known to mum fans is that there are many more varieties than the familiar yellow clustered cushion mums seen at roadside markets this time of year. While these and other garden mums are certainly the most popular among homeowners, there are several other types of chrysanthemums that barely resemble their commonplace kin. These show mums, also called florist mums, are more challenging to keep alive during winter than the hardy perennial garden mums. But if you consider these delicate beauties annuals, their unusual flowering forms can be real showstoppers in the fall garden.

Among the most extraordinary showmums are Spider mums, topped with long, curled "florets" (petals) resembling spiders' legs; Reflex mums, with hundreds of drooping florets forming a striking round shape; and Incurve taurus, prized for their massive size and the upward curve of their florets. Among each of these and the other 10 classes of mums are a seemingly infinite number of varieties in color schemes to please any garden palette. One glimpse and it's easy to understand that these gorgeous plants are a far cry from the average autumn flower.

Even among traditional garden mums, there are new developments happening all the time. One of the latest and biggest has been the emergence of Belgian mums, known for stems that stand up to abuse without breaking and for an ability to produce hundreds, even thousands, of flowering buds on a single plant. Within the Belgian group are varieties that bloom in early, mid-, and late fall. And here's another great secret: if you cut back the foliage and cover with mulch after the first freeze, they are likely to bloom again in the spring.

"It is an exciting time to be a gardener," Mississippi State University horticulturist Norman Winter said when the Belgians were introduced. "New varieties like the Belgian mums and others pouring in from around the world make you want to keep your eyes open at the garden center."

Perhaps the most important secret would-be mum growers should know is that they are largely low-maintenance plants. Tom Akers was a chrysanthemum novice when he bought a home in Vicksburg that was adjoined by a mum garden and greenhouse, and he quickly learned how easy and rewarding it is to care for the plants. "The yard was full of cushion mums that were in full bloom, and I wanted to keep them going," he says.

The previous homeowner taught Akers how to tend to both his show mums, kept in the greenhouse, and the abundant garden mums outdoors. Akers' interest grew along with the flowers, and he soon joined the Vicksburg chapter of the National Chrysanthemum Society (NCS), which had been in place in the river city for several years. The group, which was the state's only NCS chapter before recently disbanding, held annual shows where members and others could display their prized blossoms. But even outside the structure of the organization, Akers still maintains his enthusiasm for the flowers. "They're really hardy," he advises new growers. "They are hard to kill."

Young mums can be planted as early as in the spring if ordered from a national mum retailer like Kingsmums.com or Yoder.com, Akers says. The tender plants should be set in organic, well-drained soil in a sunny spot. As they grow, gardeners should add a well-balanced fertilizer monthly until August. Meanwhile, in order to create fuller plants, it is important to pinch back about half of the new growth on each shoot during the spring and summer, repeating every time shoots reach three to five inches tall. Keeping the plants mulched will ensure that all of the buds open once fall arrives. "If you plant enough and pinch them just right, they'll make a small hedge," Akers says. In winter, he trims back his plants to about six inches high and surrounds them with more mulch to protect them from freezing temperatures and prepare for their rebirth the following spring.

Of course, if you plan to display the showier mum varieties for one season only, winter care is not needed. The most important step to follow when growing large-flowered types is to "disbud," or remove all but one bud from each stem as soon as they emerge. This allows the remaining flower to grow to its maximum size. Simply fertilize and water during the growing season, spray for insects, and get ready for gorgeous blooms.

When selecting and planting mums, consider still another little secret: with so many colors to choose from, they look great when paired with other vibrantly hued fall plants. Pink-petaled 'Clara Curtis' mums are an excellent match for purple fountain grass or bold coleus, while others (like the popular 'Yellow Jacket') are contrasted nicely by violet-spiked Mexican bush sage, notes Norman Winter. The deep leaves of evergreen garden plants make any pale-colored mum stand out in the landscape. "One of the prettiest displays I have seen of 'Clara Curtis' was growing with tall purple gomphrena." Winter writes in the book Tough-as-Nails Flowers for the South.

Now that these mum-growing secrets have been unearthed, it's time for the real digging to begin. A cheerful new season in the garden awaits.

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legends of the fall

These grower-preferred mums are easy to core for and produce a spectacular autumn display:

* 'Clara Curtis'

Also known as 'Country Girl,' this pink-petaled flower has been grown in the South for more than 100 years. Plant in full sun, and it will come back year after year. Looks great with purple fountain grass or burgundy-leafed coleus.

* 'Debonair'

The unusual dark lavender shade of this early-blooming decorative mum makes it popular among commercial growers.

* 'Blizzard'

Resembling a daisy, this white-petaled mum blooms late in the fall and has dark green foliage.

* 'Roxanne'

This new multicolored variety has yellow- and rose-hued petals nestled in a ring of white.

* Belgian mums

Their sturdy stems and amazing explosion of blooms have stirred up a sensation among Southern gardeners. Popular varieties include early-blooming 'Temptress' and "Padre," mid-season "Orange Atlantico," and late-blooming 'Tripoli'