People keep asking me, “What are the rules for homecoming mums in Texas and elsewhere?”

I keep telling them, “It depends.”

It depends for two reasons. First, there’s a difference between a rule and a convention. Conventions are ways in which something is usually done. Rules are regulations that dictate the way something has to be done. Nearly everything related to how the homecoming mum tradition is practiced today in Texas (and beyond) is steeped in convention, but there are few hard-and-fast rules. This makes it harder to catch on when you’re new to the tradition.

Second, mum conventions vary from high school to high school. What’s on trend at one high school might be considered tacky at another. Also, some high schools actually do impose rules on homecoming mums, such as rules against incorporating bells. So, as I like to say, check with the kids at your local high school for details.

Before (or after) you read this, check out The Top Ten Most Frequently Asked Questions About Homecoming Mums for more mum Q&A.

What goes on a homecoming mum?

A homecoming mum (short for “chrysanthemum”) is made up of two basic parts: a floral center, and what hangs down from that floral center. Here are some typical embellishments that can be incorporated into a Texas-style homecoming mum:

Today’s homecoming mums are made from artificial flowers, which is why they can withstand all the hot glue, sewing, and staples that hold them together. Click here for more about the parts of a mum >

Do all homecoming mums look alike?

Yes. And no.

The variation in today’s homecoming mums is extraordinary. There are mums formed in the shape of a sash and mums that are two-sided and envelop the body like a sandwich board sign. There are garter mums designed to be worn on the arm, leg or ankle, and mums that are worn on the hip. There are mums designed to be hung on walls or doors.

On the flipside of the size continuum, there are mums so small that they are worn like a ring. There are wristlet mums, hair accessory mums, and micro mums that pop into a Croc. 

Check out my photogallery of 15 types of homecoming mums >

Guinness World Records defines a homecoming mum as an outsized corsage made from a base of flowers with additional decorations and streamers attached. So I guess when you get to the point when you know one when you see it, a mum’s a mum no matter how small.

How big should you make your mum?

Starting in the 1970s, rules and conventions related to the size of homecoming mums started popping up across Texas. Freshmen and sophomores wore mums made with a single-flower at the center; juniors could wear double mums (two flowers at the center), and seniors could wear triple mums or larger. The influence of these practices are still around today, but they vary from school to school. Still, it is generally understood that senior mums are the largest, junior mums are smaller, sophomore mums are smaller still, and so on.

I think that if you’re making a mum for yourself, have fun with it! Go big, go small, get creative, make it your own. But if you’re making a mum for someone else, it’s a good idea to get together in advance and talk about ideas and expectations.

Do homecoming mums have to be in school colors?

For several decades, the tradition in Texas has been that seniors mums are primarily white with either silver or gold accents, while underclassmen mums incorporate school colors. That being said, rarely do schools today have hard-and-fast rules, so it’s more about understanding conventions that you either choose to follow or break. For instance, some seniors choose to use an in-style accent color (like lavender, pink, or teal) in addition to a metallic.

How long are homecoming mums?

The answer is, as long as you want them. But there is one rule of thumb: the wider the mum, the longer the mum.

How do you wear a homecoming mum or garter?

There are two basic kinds of Texas homecoming mums: mums and garters. Mums are much larger than garter mums (called “garters,” for short). Mums are traditionally worn by girls on the front of their bodies. Garters are traditionally worn by boys on their upper arms. A sturdy ribbon affixed to back of the floral center secures the mum like a really big necklace. Garters are held in place either by a sturdy ribbon, elastic band, or garter.

Where do you buy a homecoming mum?

The simplest answer is, buy local.

If you’re not into making a mum yourself, ask around. Most florists aren’t in the mum business any more, but teachers, students, and parents will know where you can buy ready-made mums in town.

If you prefer a custom mum, sometimes a local craft store will offer this service, but there is always at least one local mum-maker in every community who makes and sells homecoming mums.

If you’ve asked around and still can’t find her (it’s almost always a woman), ask your favorite search engine, social media, or visit mums-inc.com/find-a--mum.

Learn more >

How do you make a homecoming mum?

There are tons of blog posts, videos, and TikToks dedicated to this topic! I recommend you start with a simple tutorial video like this one to get the general idea.

Then, if you’re feeling ambitious, search for videos on how to braid homecoming mum ribbons. You’ll be amazed at all the different techniques.

Where do you buy mum-making supplies?

If you’re going to make your own mum, GET CREATIVE. I recommend you start by visiting your local craft or fabric store or, if you’re lucky enough to live near one, a specialty retailer or wholesaler. Teachers, students, and parents will have suggestions, too. Even if you end up sourcing materials online (search “homecoming mum supplies wholesale”) or elsewhere, I promise that the experience of walking through aisles and aisles of homecoming mum supplies will stick with you. Learn more >

When do you wear a homecoming mum?

Homecoming mums (and garters) are worn to the homecoming game. In many high schools, students are also permitted to wear their mums to classes during homecoming day and to other related events like pep rallies. Click here for details >

How much does a homecoming mum cost to buy or make?

The answer to this question depends entirely on the style and complexity of the mum, who’s making it, and the availability of supplies.

In 2024, the average cost for a homecoming mum was between $75 and $500. This doesn’t tell the whole story. I’ve met students whose mums cost almost nothing, and I’ve seen TikToks of students claiming a sticker price of over $1000 for a high-end mum. Why such a big price range? You already know the answer. It’s complicated.

Learn more >

Who is supposed to buy the homecoming mum?

Like a typical corsage/boutonniere exchange, the tradition is that a girl will buy (or make) her date's garter and a boy will buy (or make) his date's mum. In reality, oftentimes parents buy (or make) mums for their sons and daughters or friends will make mums for each other. Click to read: How do you get a homecoming mum?

Which states have homecoming mums?

If you’re asking about Texas-style homecoming mums, I have personally laid eyes on them in Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. Beyond that, I can only report what I’ve heard, and that is they are making their way into high schools across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. Learn more >

As for classic homecoming mums, the kind made like a corsage, it’s tougher to measure how widespread the practice continues to be. Outside of Texas, the popularity—and awareness—of the homecoming mum tradition is entirely community-specific. So again I say, check with the kids at your local high school for details. And their moms.

Click on each image to see the source. Based on a quick Google search of “homecoming chrysanthemum corsage”, I found more examples than I expected to on Pinterest, Etsy, a mum-maker website in Oklahoma, and even one florist in New York.

More FAQs

Click here for answers to these frequently asked questions:

• What is homecoming?

• What is a homecoming mum?

• How did high school homecoming mums get started as a tradition?

• Is it still the tradition that boys give girls homecoming mums?

• What else does a boy give a girl at homecoming?

• What does a girl give a boy at homecoming?

• What’s the difference between a mum and a garter?

• When do you wear a homecoming mum?

• Are homecoming mums just a Texas high school thing?

• How big are Texas high school homecoming mums?

and finally…

Why do students wear mums at homecoming in Texas (or anywhere else)?

Tradition! The practice of wearing homecoming mums began in the early 1910s as a simple live flower corsage that a boy gave to a girl to wear to the homecoming football game and/or dance. This tradition was practiced at high schools and colleges all over the country.

Today’s Texas-style homecoming mums are what you get when a tradition evolves in a football-loving state as preposterously prosperous, complex, and spirited as Texas.

Shameless Plug for MUMENTOUS

If you enjoyed reading this, you might enjoy my book, Mumentous: Original Photos and Mostly-True Stories about Football, Glue Guns, Moms, and a Supersized High School Tradition that was Born Deep in the Heart of Texas.

You don’t have to take it from me. Look for independent reviews of Mumentous scattered throughout my website. Like this one:

“… Mumentous by Amy J. Schultz makes crystal clear that while the tradition continues to evolve and mutate, Texas homecoming mums in all their colossal glory and maybe a bit of infamy are here to stay. But they can’t possibly get even bigger and fancier, can they? Texas moms: ‘Darlin’, hold my iced tea (or wine) and pass the glue gun.’ ” — Ruthie Jones, Reading by Moonlight