About
This upright, bushy annual reaches a height of 60 cm and features finely divided, vibrant green foliage from summer through autumn. In the summer, short, erect stems produce daisy-like flowers that start as crimson to burgundy, gradually fading to a reddish-pink as they mature.
About the genus
Cosmos comprises both annual and perennial species characterized by either simple or pinnately divided foliage. These plants produce sizable, long-stemmed flowers resembling daisies during the summer months.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam, Sand, Clay
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H3
Plant details
- Plant type
- Annual Biennial
- Habit
- Columnar upright
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 0.5-1 metres
- Spread
- 0.5-1 metres
- Time to full height
- 1-2 years
- Suggested uses
- City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants, Wildlife gardens
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun. Deadhead flowers to prologue flowering season. Leave a few seedheads to ripen to selfseed if required. A relatively compact grower so most likely will not need staking
- Pruning
- Deadhead to prolong the flowering season
- Propagation
- See sowing seeds indoors
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to aphids and slugs
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to grey moulds