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All About Cosmos - Urban Farmer's Guide
Home > Gardener's Guide > All About Cosmos
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Cosmos belongs to a family of plants known as Compositae. There are 20 known species of cosmos, but two annual species, Cosmos sulphureus and Cosmos bipinnatus, are most familiar to home gardeners. These two species are most easily differentiated by leaf structure and flower color. The leaves of C. sulphureus are long, with narrow lobes and hairy margins. The flower colors of this species are always shades of yellow, orange or red. The C. bipinnatus has leaves that are finely cut into threadlike segments. The foliage looks similar to ferns. The flowers are white or various shades of pink to dark rose.
Site Preparation:
Site Preparation:
Easy to grow, cosmos thrives in full sun and will flower more abundantly in poor soil than in rich. Cosmos require little water and little attention. Excellent for water-conserving landscape design.
How to Plant:
How to Plant:
Plant cosmos in early spring since seedlings are not winter hardy. The average planting success with this species is 80 percent. The plant height is 2 - 4 feet depending on culture and variety selected. Plants will germinate in 7 - 21 days when the soil temperature is optimum for germination at 70 - 80 degrees F. Plant seed 1/16 inch deep by raking into the soil. C. sulphureus plants bloom from May - November. Plants should be sheared every 30 days or whenever seed pods predominate. Large areas can be seeded at a rate of 15 pounds per acre C. sulphureus plants bloom approximately 50 - 55 days after germination. Yellow cosmos needs to be replanted each spring for continued success.
Check out these two varieties of cosmos: Bright Lights and Sensation Mix!
Seed Saving Instructions:
Check out these two varieties of cosmos: Bright Lights and Sensation Mix!
Seed Saving Instructions:
Cosmos is self-seeding. You can save the seed if you're interested, but the flowers won't always come true to type; fancy varieties often revert to the simple single-flower form.
Tip: Cosmos attracts beneficial insects and butterflies to the garden.
Here's one additional tip to keep your cosmos in bloom. "After your cosmos have their first flush of blooms, cut them back for another one," she says. To do this, take a branch with many finished flowers, go a third of the way down the plant and cut them off. Pruning is an easy way to prompt new growth and tidy up the plant. Afterward, fertilize, water and await a whole new crop.
Tell a friend all about cosmos!
Tip: Cosmos attracts beneficial insects and butterflies to the garden.
Here's one additional tip to keep your cosmos in bloom. "After your cosmos have their first flush of blooms, cut them back for another one," she says. To do this, take a branch with many finished flowers, go a third of the way down the plant and cut them off. Pruning is an easy way to prompt new growth and tidy up the plant. Afterward, fertilize, water and await a whole new crop.
Tell a friend all about cosmos!
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