Grow lots of cosmos flowers
Cosmos has been a staple incottage gardensfor generations , but this endearing heirloom one-year is a first rate addition to just about any casual garden you have aright now . Cosmos flowers sit on recollective halt that gently nod in the breeze — a dandy summation to meadows and abbreviate garden , too .
Two types of cosmos
The two most common cosmos aretall cosmosandsulphur cosmos . You ’re in all probability most familiar with tall universe . This is the one you see in the food market store seed wrack every yr . Plants maturate 1 to 4 feet magniloquent and have slender , ferny leaves . The 2- to 4 - inch blooms come in shadowiness of pinkish , red , white or violet and bicolors . Flowers are most often single but there are also double and other interesting variations — meet a few of my favorites in the gallery below .
Sulphur cosmos has 2- to 3 - inch orange , red or chicken exclusive blooms and grows 1 to 6 feet tall . Its leafage is coarser than that of tall cosmos and it tends to grow taller . ‘ Bright Lights ’ is a dwarf variety in a mix of yellow and shades of orange . But if you prefer a particular people of color , look for ‘ Cosmic Yellow ’ or ‘ Sunset Orange ’ .
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Cosmos flowers are great in bouquets
Besides face groovy in the garden , cosmos is a wonderful cutting peak . To get the most from your summer bouquets hold out these peak :
Deadheading cosmos flowers
Cosmos usually starts flower in early summertime and uphold until frost if you deadhead . While you do n’t have to deadhead , doing so retain the planty looking tidy and promote a prompt rebloom . Here ’s how to do it : Cosmos produces multiple flowering stems near the top of the plant . The center one open up first . As that one fade , clip it outand the side stems will take off more cursorily . When they ’re all done cut the whole group off above a leaf client to encourage more growth and more flush .
Shearing back
If you have a large planting or some back - of the - perimeter beauty that are punishing to reach , you may or may not want to be as detailed . The photo above shows a less fussy method acting . you could even go so far as tocut your cosmos backto within 12 to 18 inches of the ground , and the plants will rebloom again in a few week .
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Save cosmos seed
While it ’s a good mind to deadhead your cosmos to keep them blooming , be sure to let a few go to source toward the end of the season so you ’ll have more plants the next year . Let them grow wherever they land orsave seedsso you may choose where to grow them . The picture above bear witness you what to look for and how to reap cosmos seed . They may not issue forth true , or look like the parent plant , though . Check out the simple step below on how to lay aside cosmos seeds .
How to save cosmos flower seeds
Cosmos flower varieties to try
look for some cosmos to brighten your borders and animate up bouquets ? Besides the traditional single flowers that flower in pink , magenta , white or promising orange , there are plenty of exciting new tone for cosmos . Now let ’s take a look at a few gorgeous cosmos varieties that you ’re going to want to try .
‘ wizard Mix ’ magniloquent cosmos ( Cosmos sulphureus )
TypeAnnualBlooms3 to 4 in . single blooms in lavender , pinkish , magenta and whiteLightFull sunSoilPoor , well - drainedSize48 to 54 in . grandiloquent and 12 to 14 in . wide
' Seashells ’ marvelous cosmos ( Cosmos bipinnatus )
TypeAnnualBloomsAn heirloom with fluted petal , this classic has stood the test of meter . heyday come in in pink , red and whiteLightFull sunSoilPoor , well - drainedSize36 to 48 in . tall and 16 to 20 in . widely
‘ burnished Lights ’ sulphur cosmos ( Cosmos sulphureus )
TypeAnnualBloomsThis variety is a blossom power plant — it blooms nonstop with 2 ½-in . blooms in shades of brilliant orange , yellow and redLightFull sunSoilPoor , well - drainedSize36 to 48 in . improbable and 15 to 18 in . widely
‘ Xanthos ’ improbable cosmos ( Cosmos bipinnatus )
TypeAnnualBloomsSoft lily-livered 2 ½-in . open - cross-pollinate blooms with a white center ringing will come true if it reseedsLightFull sunSoilpoor , well - drainedSize20 to 24 in . grandiloquent and 14 to 16 in . astray
Sonata White tall universe ( Cosmos bipinnatus )
TypeAnnualBloomsPart of the Sonata series 2 to 3 in . bloom come in white , pink , magenta , purple and a mix . Sometimes you ’ll retrieve this series in multipacks at the garden centerLightFull sunSoilPoor , well - drainedSize18 to 24 in . marvellous and 12 to 14 in . wide
‘ Double Click Rose Bonbon ’ tall cosmos ( Cosmos bipinnatus )
TypeAnnualBloomsTall enough for the back of the border , the frilly pink semidouble to double 3 - in . bloom add together a romanticistic look to the gardenLightFull sunSoilPoor , well - drainedSize36 to 48 in . marvelous and 18 to 24 in . wide
