Cosmos bipinnatus Seeds | Cosmos
LATIN NAME: Cosmos bipinnatus
COMMON NAME: Cosmos
Plant Profile
Known to gardeners as Cosmos, Cosmos bipinnatus is a noteworthy species in the aster family. Cosmos is airy, cheerful flower of late summer border, and it sways on its fine stems above lacy foliage in a light, open drift of colour. Single, saucer-shaped heads come in clear pink, rose, crimson, white and warm orange, and plant flowers for a very long stretch from middle of summer to the frost. Fine, feathery leaves give the whole plant a soft, delicate look, and it moves gently in the lightest breeze. Gardeners value it precisely for this blend of qualities.
Science & Biotechnology
Botanists studying the Aster family regularly include Cosmos bipinnatus in comparative work, and the species also appears in horticultural trials aimed at gardeners and growers. Cosmos has a light but steady presence in plant science. Gardeners benefit directly from its long cultivation: what the plant will do in a garden is well understood.
Uses & Benefits
In the garden, Cosmos earns its place in borders, containers and mixed plantings, and it also rewards growers who raise plants for cutting, drying or kitchen use. Cosmos is grown for colour, and it is a mainstay of summer bedding, wildflower mixes and cutting garden. Flowers are a rich source of nectar and pollen, and a drift of it in flower keeps bees, butterflies and hoverflies busy through late summer. Cosmos comes from open, sunny ground of warm parts of the America, and it has been carried to gardens of world as one of easiest of summer annuals. Once it has settled, the workload drops to almost nothing.
Cosmos is an effortless pollinator annual for the cutting garden; in Latin America the leaves of some species are traditional salad herbs.
Growing from Seed
Cosmos grows readily from seed. A simple routine works well: sow evenly over the surface and cover lightly in a loose, well-drained seed compost, maintain even moisture, and provide bright light. Once the seedlings have made true leaves, pot them on individually and plant out when they are sturdy and conditions are right.
Our Take
Cosmos earns its space through character rather than fuss. It is generous with beginners and their occasional misjudgements.
Related Reading
If Cosmos appeals to you, these related plants are worth a look: