If you love colours; if you love flowers; if you love variations; then this plant will surely make its way into your garden.

Close cousin to the sunflower family, the Indian Chrysanthemum (in English) or Shevanti (in Marathi) or Guldaudi (in Hindi) is one of the most hardy and easy-to-maintain houseplants as compared to its exotic peers – aka marigold, sunflowers.

This medium sized flowering plant can grow up to 3 meters, and apt for potted plants in urban homes. Shevanti comes in numerous colours, and grows profusely in its main flowering season in India – winters. Although, sometimes it continues to bloom during early summers too.

Native to Asia, it is widely used in traditional medicine from herbal teas to concoctions. Several studies have pointed out the benefits of this flower to treat ailments from hypertension, fevers, headaches, inflammation, anxiety, et al.

In case you haven’t added this flower yet in your garden, now it is the time to enjoy the mums now!