Species cosmos
dark-orange flower with orange center, black anthers and green leaves

cosmos

Cosmos sulphureus

Cosmos sulphureus is a beautiful, hardy annual with bright yellow blooms that will bring a cheerful radiance to any garden. It has a fast growth habit and blooms for months. The flowers are easy to grow and require minimal caring. They have an excellent tolerance to drought and survive in any soil type with adequate sunlight. The flowers bring additional benefits such as attracting birds, butterflies and other beneficial insects to the garden. Adding this cheerful addition to your garden will be sure to brighten up any outdoor space.

Cycle:

Annual

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Seed Propagation,Division,Cutting,Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

2 - 11

Flowers:

Yellow Flowers

Sun:

full sun,part shade

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green,yellow

Growth Rate:

High

Maintenance:

Moderate

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Cosmos plants need to be watered regularly in order to keep their soil moderately moist. They don't need a lot of water, so be careful not to overwater them. Aim to water around once a week, though this may vary depending on the time of year and the soil you have - during the summer months water more frequently whereas during the colder months you can water slightly less. Ensure that when you do water, you water deeply to give the roots enough moisture - around 2-3 inches of water is ideal.

sunlight

Cosmos sulphureus requires plenty of full sun in order to thrive. It prefers at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day, but the more direct, unobstructed sunlight it receives, the better. When grown in a partially shaded area, this species of cosmos will not produce as many blooms as it would if grown in a sunny location.

pruning

The best time to prune cosmos is in the late winter or early spring before or just as they begin to put out new foliage. If the flowers on your cosmos have already bloomed, then you can wait until late summer or early fall for your next pruning session. When pruning, you should remove about 1/3 of the plant by cutting it back to within several inches of the ground. This encourages bushier plants with more flowers. Deadheading or removing faded flowers throughout the season will also encourage more blooms.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Cosmos sulphureus typically start flowering in late spring or early summer, usually in May or June.

Starts Flowering

Cosmos sulphureus typically start flowering in late spring or early summer, usually in May or June.

Hardiness Map