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Asteraceae FAMILY

Cosmos bipinnatus

Cosmos bipinnatus

Edibility
0/5
Medicinal
0/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Cultivation Details

HabitAnnual
Growth—

Succeeds in a sunny sheltered position in most soils[1] but prefers one that is poor and light[2]. A very ornamental plant[3], the flowers are very attractive to bees[2]. There are many named forms selected for their ornamental value[3].

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a greenhouse. The seed usually germinates in 5 - 7 days at 20 - 25°c[4]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in early summer. Especially in areas with hot summers, the seed can also be sown in situ in May[4]. Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2026-02-21. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Cosmos+bipinnatus>

Pollinators

Bees, Lepidoptera

References

  1. [1]Focus on Plants. Volume 5. (formerly 'Growing from seed') — Bird. R. (Editor) · Thompson and Morgan. · 1991 · ISBN - ↩︎Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. A good article on Corydalis spp.
  2. [2]Garden Plants Valuable to Bees. — International Bee Research Association. · International Bee Research Association. · 1981 · ISBN - ↩︎The title says it all.
  3. [3]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
  4. [4]Growing from Seed. Volume 4. — Bird. R. (Editor) · Thompson and Morgan. · 1990 · ISBN - ↩︎Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. A good article on Yuccas, one on Sagebrush (Artemesia spp) and another on Chaerophyllum bulbosum.
  5. [5]Gray's Manual of Botany.Eighth Edition — Fernald. M. L. · American Book Co.; New York · 1950 · ISBN 0442222505 ↩︎A bit dated but a good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America.