Cosmos
Cosmos: Great meadow plant or for the Cottage Garden. Plant it in full sun, cut flowers, attracts butterflies and is very easy to grow.
| Cosmos | Annual |
|---|---|
| Bloom Time | Late Spring to Frost |
| Light | Full Sun |
| Water | Moist Well Drained Soil |
| Diseases | Powdery Mildew, Stem Canker, Botrytis |
| Pests | Aphids |
| Propagation | Seed |
| Color | Any |
| Zones | 2 - 11 |
| Features | Cut Flowers, Dried Flowers, Attracts Butterflies, Easy to Grow |
Cosmos 'Candystripe': "Candystripe" is a big favorite, growing 3 to 5 ft. with deep pink flowers flamed with bright white on each petal.
This is one of the best for cutting--just imagine a big arrangement in the living room. Like all the others, it's a snap to grow from seed, and you'll have big bloom from midsummer right up until frost.
The Cosmos is an old time favorite that has enjoyed some resurgence in the gardening market. Want a plant that is easy to grow and required almost not maintenance? This would surly be one of your top choices.
When you talk about annual flowers, there is probably no other plant that compete for the colors of the Cosmos.
They can grow tall, I mean really tall - up to 6' or 7' if the conditions are right, so you have to do some planning to place them in the correct setting.
They look great in a wildflower setting, or wildflower meadow filled with a sea of big, ferny plants waving in the breeze.
Colors abound with this plant, ranging from white, pink, red and maroon.
A favorite place that I have for my Cosmos is in the cottage garden. The simple, daisy-like flowers appear in cheery shades on tall stems that are great for cutting.
One nice feature of the Cosmos is that they are prolific self-seeders. You might only have to plant it once and they will keep coming up every spring. Simply roto-till out the plants that get outside your intended border. You will have to keep an eye on the plants from year to year though as the reseeding can produce colors that are muddy or can look rather odd in the border.
If you prefer a shorter variety, there have been some dwarf cultivars developed. Check in the Cosmos Amazon Favorites at the bottom of this page.
Plant cosmos from seed directly in the ground in spring. Or start from established seedlings. This flower doesn't like fertilizing or conditions that are too rich, which causes the foliage to be large and lush but with fewer blooms.
It is likely that once planted, they will self-seed for you without any encouragement.
It does best with average moisture but will tolerate drought.
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Gloria Pinks Cosmos - Cosmos bipinnatus: Annual/Perennial: Annual
Color: Pink with Purple Eye
Bloom Time: Summer / Fall
Height: 36 - 60 "
Sun/Shade: Sun or Partial Shade
Approx. Seeds/Lb.: n/a
Native To: Latin America
Zones: 3 - 9
Celosia:
These two cut flowers look great together in the garden and in the vase.
Dusty Miller:
Set off cosmos' beautiful ferny foliage with the silvery notes in dusty miller leaves.
Salvia:
Mix blue salvia's spiky blue flowers with pink or white cosmos for a stunning presentation you count on to look good all season, in any kind of weather.
I love to use Cosmos in my cottage garden. The bright purple , pink and white blooms are long lasting and a foundation plant you can build around. You have to watch were you plant them as some of the cultivars can grow to 7' tall.
The attract butterflies like crazy, so place them in a great viewing position to capitalize on that feature.
Cosmos also look great as a naturalized plant or in a wildflower or meadow-like setting. So if you have a spot like that, this plant will give you a lot a color and last all year long.
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Double Click Cosmos Flower Seed Huge frilly double blooms in shades of red, pink & white, attractive lacy foliage, very easy to grow, direct sow, after last frost, cut & come again blooms.
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Cosmic Orange cosmos (Cosmos sulphureus 'Cosmic Orange') bears many double orange flowers that are great for cutting. It grows 12 inches tall.
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Cosmic Yellow cosmos (Cosmos sulphureus 'Cosmic Yellow') is a compact selection with double yellow flowers over dark green foliage. It grows 12 inches tall.
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Sensation cosmos (Cosmos 'Sensation Mix') bears large, 4-inch-wide flowers in a mix of lavender, pink, red, an
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Sonata White cosmos (Cosmos 'Sonata White') bears pure-white flowers on sturdy, 18-inch-tall plants.
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Versailles cosmos (Cosmos 'Versailles Mix') is especially good for cutting because of its strong stems and large flowers in shades of pink, white, and red.
'Rubenza' Cosmos - 60 Seeds - Dark Ruby Red: Easy-to-grow plants flower over a long season. Dark ruby red blooms change to old-rose red as they mature.
One of the brightest Cosmos we have ever seen. Excellent garden performance in borders adding height and interest.
Half Hardy Annual
Excellent for border or as a cut flower
Sow indoors 4-6 weeks before last spring frost
Prefers a sunny position in lihgt, well-drained soil
Flowers summer to autumn
Height: 90cm (3ft)
2010 FLOWER OF THE YEAR
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Yellow cosmos (Cosmos sulphureus) bears orange, yellow, or red flowers and finely divided foliage..
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Bright Lights Cosmos - Cosmos bipinnatus:
Annual/Perennial: Annual
Color: Pink / White / Scarlet
Bloom Time: Mid / Late Season
Height: 8 - 16"
Sun/Shade: Sun / Shade
Approx. Seeds/Lb.: 80,000
Native To: North America
Zones: 3 - 10
Spacing: Plant seeds 8-12 in. apart in spring. Sow directly into the ground.
Fertilizer: Use an all-purpose once a month.
Water Requirements: Cosmos require soil that is well-drained with watering's every day during the first week and moderately after that.
Plant Growth: Annuals and perennials. Plants will grow to be about 4-7 ft. tall with a 12-18 in. spread. Does best in full sun. Perennials are good container plants. They also work well in borders. Grow annuals in herbaceous or annual borders.
