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Chocolate Cosmos (Cosmos atrosanguineus) is a tuberous perennial which is hardy in USDA zones 7-10, but with excellent drainage and heavy winter mulching it will often survive the winters in zone 6. If you have doubts about the plants survival, you can dig the tuber just as you would with Dahlias. Once the foliage has died back, carefully dig the clump, cut the stems back to within 2 inches of the tubers, and store in slightly moist peat moss in a frost free place.
Chocolate Cosmos should be planted in full sun, in rich well draining soil. Apply a good all-purpose fertilizer when new growth appears and again at mid-season. Remove the spent flowers promptly.
The dark maroon flowers appear on wirey 18 inch stems from June until frost and produce a pleasant chocolate scent, especially on warm evenings. Chocolate Cosmos can also be grown in containers provided that a high quality planting mix is used.
Cosmos atrosanguineus (Chocolate Cosmos) is propagated by division of the tubers. (Be certain that each tuber has at least one eye!)
Chocolate Cosmos
These are Cedar Hill flowers!
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From: Cedar Hill Washington | Registered: Aug 2002
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Oh Bill, those Chocolate Cosmos are beautiful! Would something like that survive if I brought it indoors for the winter? Perhaps if I planted them in a container to begin with, that could be brought inside? Living on the coast of Maine makes some things out of my reach as a gardener, but I'd like to try these. Any thoughts?
Merme
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"In the midst of winter, I learned there lives in me an invincible summer" Camus (maybe a paraphrase)
From: Maine | Registered: Oct 2004
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You could certainly prolong the blooming season if you brought them indoors in a planter (if you have a bright enough spot fot it), but like most perennials they will still have to have a dormant period eventually. I think that you'd be better off to let the potted Cosmos die back naturally outdoors and then store the planter somewhere that it won't freeze til Spring.
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From: Cedar Hill Washington | Registered: Aug 2002
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Karen, I'll bet you it's Corydalis lutea. One of my all time favorites... I love the purple one too, and the blue one and the, or, er, um, gettin' carried away..
Great plant if it's that one!!!
Weezie
[ 11-22-2004, 03:58 PM: Message edited by: Bill ]
bbbbbbbbb Weezie
Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it. - Bible - Hebrews 13:2
I had a purple one and it bloomed from spring until the middle of summer, almost the end actually.. I couldnt' believe how long it bloomed. I thought I'd put it in a good spot, shady, sorta moist and most times, maybe a bit dry at the end of summer until the fall rains come, and it did so wonderfully, but it didnt' come back for me the next year I was disappointed.
I just got a yellow one this fall, a couple of weeks ago actually, my oldest and my "3rd~kid " *which is the neighbor kid*" were raking the leaves for another neighbor, she gave them some $$ for raking and sent me a plant for having such wonderful boys!!!
Weezie
bbbbbbbbb Weezie
Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it. - Bible - Hebrews 13:2
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Thank you so much Bill, I have been searching everywhere for information on the chocolate cosmos. I bought the only one at the local garden centre and they didn't know a thing about it. I can't thank you enough! Cheers,
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Chocolate Cosmos (Cosmos atrosanguineus) is a tuberous perennial which is hardy in 
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These are Cedar Hill flowers!
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