Cosmos
Cosmos bipinnatus
📖 About this plant
A delightful, easy-to-grow annual producing daisy-like flowers in pink, white, crimson, and bicolor shades atop delicate, feathery foliage. Cosmos blooms prolifically from summer until frost with almost no care required. The flowers attract butterflies and beneficial insects. Deadheading extends bloom time. Excellent for cut flower arrangements and naturalizing in meadow gardens.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
Full sun (6-8 hrs)
Every 1-2 weeks
Low to moderate (30-50%)
18-30°C
Well-draining, average to poor soil; tolerates drought and neglect; pH 6.0-7.5. Rich soil produces excessive foliage at the expense of flowers
Generally does not need fertilizer; too-rich soil causes tall, floppy plants with fewer blooms. If needed, light balanced fertilizer at planting only
🌐 Common Names
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- Mexico, Central and South America
- 📏 Max height
- 60-150 cm
- 📐 Spread
- 30-60 cm
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Summer - Fall
- 🎨 Bloom color
- Pink, White, Purple
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Green
- ⏳ Lifespan
- Annual
- 📈 Growth rate
- Fast
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Non-toxic to humans and pets; all parts safe. Cosmos is not known to be poisonous to any species
- 🌱 Propagation
- Direct sow seeds 0.3 cm deep after last frost; germinates in 7-10 days; thin to 30-45 cm apart. Can also start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost
🛡️ Health & Safety
Non-toxic to humans and pets; all parts safe. Cosmos is not known to be poisonous to any species
Common issues
- Tall
- leggy growth in rich soil or too much shade
- Aster leafhopper transmitting aster yellows
- Mildew in humid
- poorly ventilated conditions
💡 Care tips
- Delicate daisy-like flowers bloom profusely until frost
- Poor soil actually produces more flowers than rich soil
- Direct sow seeds after last frost for best results
- Excellent cut flower that lasts up to a week in a vase
