Orange Cosmos Cosmos sulphureus
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- KAHS-mos sul-FER-ee-us
- Description
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Klondike cosmos is a fast growing annual with golden-yellow or orange flowers in the Asteraceae (daisy) family. It can grow up to 6 feet tall providing sticking color from summer until the first frost. The ‘Cosmic’ series will give you lots of 2-inch double and semi-double bright, non-fading blooms in shades of orange, red, and yellow, and will get 12 to 18 inches tall on well-branched plants.
Plant cosmos in a location that receives at least a half-day of direct sunlight in moist to dry, porous soils. Sow the seeds outdoors after the danger of frost is past and when the soil has warmed to at least 65 degrees. Rake seeds into a loose soil; planting seeds too deeply will hinder germination. Keep the soil moist for 5 to 10 days after seeding. Seeds will germinate in 7 to 21 days. Cosmos needs only basic care to provide an abundance of colorful blooms all summer. Taller varieties may need staking if subjected to high winds and frequent storms.
When the spring-planted cosmos appears to have an abundance of dried seed, do not remove the plants. Encourage re-bloom by cutting the plants back to 12 to 18 inches high. They will be back in bloom in a month and the seed that is cut off will fall to the ground, germinate in the hot soil, and increase the density of your plant population and the eventual bloom display.
Use in the background as a bedding plant or in a cut flower garden.
Quick ID Hints:
- dimorphic involucral bracts in two rows
- opposite, pinnatifid leaves
- small heads 1-2" with orange ray flowers
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Aphids and Japanese beetles are occasional bests. Bacterial wilt and canker are occasional diseases. It reseeds easily and can become weedy.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Bright Lights'
- 'Lemon Twist'
- 'Sunny Gold'
- 'Sunny Red'
- 'Bright Lights'
- 'Bright Lights', 'Lemon Twist', 'Sunny Gold', 'Sunny Red'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Bright Lights'
- 'Lemon Twist'
- 'Sunny Gold'
- 'Sunny Red'
- 'Bright Lights'
- 'Bright Lights', 'Lemon Twist', 'Sunny Gold', 'Sunny Red'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cosmos
- Species:
- sulphureus
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The flowers can be used to make a yellow dye.
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mexico to Central America
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts pollinators and butterflies
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Colorful
- Easy to Grow
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- 6-feet-12 feet
- 12-24 feet
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Long Bloom Season
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Saucer
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Produces daisy-like flowers (to 2.5” diameter) with yellow discs and yellow rays. Terminal, head to 2" diam., on long peduncles 4-8" long. Involucral bracts in two rows; outer row spreading, narrow, inner row appressed to ray flowers, broad, membranous, pigmented. Ray flowers rich orange or pale reddish-yellow, obovate, notched at apex. Disc flowers yellow.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Pinnatifid
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Compound leaves are up to 12 inches long with 2-3 deeply cleft leaflets.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Problems:
- Weedy