Cosmos are freely flowering plants that are easy to grow by sprinkling some seeds in the garden after any danger of frost has passed. These quintessential cottage garden flowers reach full maturity in about two months. This plant tends to be slower to germinate, but it blooms quickly after that and continues to flower through the fall.
Cosmos flowers look a lot like daisies. They come in a broad range of colors, with more cultivars developed every year. The leaves grow opposite on stems and are deeply lobed, pinnate, or bipinnate and feather-looking depending on the type. The flowers sit atop long slender stems and form a cloud of color that looks attractive throughout the summer and attracts bees, butterflies, and birds to your garden.
Cosmos plants may be featured at the back of a descending garden or in the middle of an island garden. Taller varieties may need staking if not planted in an area protected from the wind. Planting cosmos flowers results in many uses of the specimen, such as cut flowers for the indoor display and backgrounds for other plants. Cosmos can even be used as screens to hide unsightly elements in the landscape.
Types of Cosmos
Cosmos flowers are generally categorizes into 3 groups, which include:
- Cosmos atrosanguineus
- Cosmos sulphureus
- Cosmos bipinnatus
Cosmos atrosanguineus types
Cosmos atrosanguineus is a hardy perennial flowering plant that reproduces from tuberous roots. It is suitable for flower beds, edging and rock gardens. Also, known as chocolate cosmos, It grows 3 to 4 feet tall and 18 to 24 inches wide. The leaves of the plant are lance shaped and a deep, bluish-green. Chocolate cosmos flowers are cup shaped on tall, thin stems. The velvety, dark maroon-colored flowers bloom from late summer through autumn. Example of chocolate cosmos variety is: Chocamocha
Chocamocha
Chocamocha also known as “Coco Chanel,” is a popular variety of chocolate cosmos available for purchase online or from local plant nurseries. This easy-care plant emits a pungent fragrance resembling dark chocolate. The heady chocolate fragrance of the flowers attracts birds, bees and butterflies to the home garden. Of all the many different varieties of cosmos, only chocolate cosmos is scented.
Cosmos sulphureus types
Cosmos sulphureus produces yellow, orange, red or golden flowers. Flowers may be either single or double blooms and come in a variety of sizes from dwarfs to plants 3 to 4 feet tall. Foliage on these plants is lobed with hairy edges. Common varieties include:
Bright Lights
Floriferous, Cosmos sulphureus ‘Bright Lights’ is a half-hardy annual boasting orange to tangerine, semi-double flowers. Blooming for months from early summer to fall, the cheerful blossoms are borne atop tall stems and float above the fresh, fern-like foliage.
Also Read: Different Types of Celosia Flowers
Cosmic Orange
Cosmos sulphureus ‘Cosmic Orange’ is a compact, half-hardy annual boasting semi-double, vibrant orange flowers. Creating a graceful visual impact in the garden, it is perfect for sunny borders or containers. Also, excellent as cut flowers.
Cosmic Yellow
Cosmos sulphureus ‘Cosmic Yellow’ is a compact, half-hardy annual boasting double, vibrant golden yellow flowers. Fairly pest-free and low maintenance, you add this charming plant to your garden and you will be rewarded with abundant butterflies.
Cosmic Red
Cosmos sulphureus ‘Cosmic Red’ is a compact, half-hardy annual boasting semi-double, vibrant scarlet double flowers. Creating a graceful visual impact in the garden, it is perfect for sunny borders or containers. Also, excellent as cut flowers.
Cosmos bipinnatus types
Cosmos bipinnatus produces flowers similar to other varieties, in the white, pink and rose range. Foliage is fernlike, giving the cosmos an airy appearance as the blooms sway in the summer breeze. Height ranges from 1 to 6 feet, depending on the cultivar. Common varieties include:
Apricot Lemonade
Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Apricot Lemonade’ is an upright, bushy annual boasting single, pale apricot flowers, flushed mauve-pink at the base of the petals. Blooming for months from midsummer to fall, the ravishing blossoms are borne on sturdy, upright stems above the finely-divided foliage of bright green leaves.
Rubinato
Well-branched and compact, Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Rubinato’ is a dwarf, half-hardy annual boasting single, velvety, dark burgundy-red flowers, maturing to old rose.This rich-flowering Cosmos is ideally suited for the patio and terrace and is a true eye catcher in the border.
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Cosimo Purple Red-White
Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Cosimo Purple Red-White’ is a half-hardy annual boasting gorgeous bicolor flowers, striped in purple, red and white, adorned with golden-yellow centers. Blooming for months from early summer to fall, the ravishing blossoms are borne atop sturdy stems and float above the fine, feathery foliage.
Cupcakes Mixed
Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Cupcakes Mixed’ are half-hardy annuals boasting extra large, single or semi-double, white, pale pink, or pink flowers.The petals are all fused together, forming a bowl around their yellow center.
Double Click Cranberries
Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Double Click Cranberries’ is a half-hardy annual boasting gorgeous rich burgundy, double and semi-double flowers, adorned with golden-yellow centers. When used as cut flowers, indoors in a vase, the pleasure and beauty they bring is unprecedented.
Rubenza
Noted for its unique color, Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Rubenza’ is a dwarf, bushy, half-hardy annual boasting single, dark ruby red flowers, maturing to deep rose with age.This rich-flowering Cosmos is ideally suited for the patio and terrace and is a true eye catcher in the border.
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Double Click Bicolor Rose
Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Double Click Bicolor Rose’ is a half-hardy annual boasting lovely rose, fluffy double flowers. Blooming for months from early summer to fall, the ravishing blossoms are borne atop tall stems and float above the fine, feathery foliage.
Sensation Pinkie
Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Sensation Pinkie’ is a bushy annual boasting large, single, purplish-pink flowers adorned with a prominent yellow center. Creating a graceful visual impact in the garden this is perfect at the back of a sunny boarder.
Double Click Mixed
Cosmos ‘Double Click Mixed’ are bushy, half-hardy annuals boasting semi-double to double flowers, with ruffled petals in shades of rose, pink or white. Blooming for months from early summer to fall, the ravishing blossoms are borne atop tall, branching stems and float above the fine, feathery foliage.
Xanthos
Popular for its unique color, award-winner Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Xanthos’ is a dwarf, half-hardy annual boasting single, soft lemon-yellow flowers, fading to white around the edge. Creating a graceful visual impact in the garden, Cosmos Xanthos are perfect for sunny borders or containers.
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Purity
Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Purity’ is a tall annual boasting large, saucer-shaped, pure white flowers, adorned with a bright yellow button center. This rich-flowering Cosmos is ideally suited for the patio and terrace and is a true eye catcher in the border. They are also good for cutting.
Xsenia
Noted for its color changing during the season, Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Xsenia’ is a dwarf, half-hardy annual boasting single, rosy-pink flowers, overlaid with a soft peach glow. In full sun, the petals appear pink and as the light fades in the evening or on cloudy days, the peach-coral tones become more pronounced.
Sonata Series
Early, compact and very floriferous, Cosmos bipinnatus Sonata Series are dwarf, bushy, half-hardy annuals boasting masses of single, pure white, soft pink and carmine flowers, with golden centers.
Sensation Picotee
Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Sensation Picotee’ is a half-hardy annual boasting large, single, snow-white flowers, adorned with rich rose-pink edges.Blooming for months from early summer to fall, the ravishing blossoms are borne atop tall stems and float above the fine, feathery foliage.
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Sonata White
Compact and uniform, award-winner Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Sonata White’ is a dwarf, bushy, half-hardy annual boasting masses of single, pure white flowers, with golden centers. Creating a graceful visual impact in the garden, this dwarf Cosmos selection is perfect for sunny borders or containers.
Sensation Radiance
Popular since the 1930s, Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Sensation Radiance’ is a bushy annual boasting large, brilliant rose-pink flowers, adorned with a prominent red-purple halo at the base of the petals. Creating a graceful visual impact in the garden, this annual cosmos is perfect at the back of sunny borders.
Further References
- Cosmos Flower Facts: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmos_(plant)
- How To Grow Celosia: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/cosmos/growing-cosmos.htm
- Cosmos Flower Care: https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-grow-cosmos-4125538
- Cosmos Flower Facts: https://gardenerspath.com/plants/flowers/grow-cosmos/