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Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) There are many species of Cosmos(even one that smells like chocolate ), but 3 of them are fairly well known species that can be found at your local nurseries or garden centers.
You can usually see this native of Mexico grouped along the highways across the US during the summer due in part to them being extremely heat and drought tolerant. You'll also be sure to run across them in the back borders of cottage gardens just as they did years ago.
The first species is tall cosmos--it's easily recognized for it's feathery upright foliage and pink, red, and white flowers that encircle a yellow center. They like full sun and do well in poor, unfertile soil--actually giving them fertilizer usually isn't the best idea....Fertilizer will increase the foliage, but can cause the plant to delay flower production. They enjoy full sun and you'll be sure to see many butterflies on them. These fast growers that can easily reach a height of five feet.
The second species--Cosmos Sulphureus has orange flowers and it is also very tall reaching up to six feet by the end of the growing season. The foliage varies from tall cosmos--it isn't as feathery and is more prominent and defined.
The third species Cosmos "Seashells" appear just as they sound. They grow rolled flowers of pink, red, or white that resemble small seashells. Their maximum height is around three feet tall. All of the above species may have to be staked up, and all make excellent cut flowers. If you let the plant go to seed you may be treated next year to new cosmos plants in the same spot becaue they frequently self-sow.
Cosmos are extremely easy to grow from seed . They can either be sown outdoors after all chances of frosts have passed, or they can be grown indoors 5-7 weeks before you transplant them outside. You will see germination from them in about 5-10 days.
Loz's Pics Cosmos Sulphureus
Pink Tall Cosmos
Pink Tall Cosmos
Cosmos Seashells
From: Beautiful Western Maryland...zone 6 | Registered: May 2003
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Great profile Loz... beautiful photos! Thank you!!!!
I guess I was too late starting my seeds this year. The plants quickly grew to 5' and are really healthy, but I only got about 20 blooms. You got me hooked on them tho... Next year I'll try a lot harder.
bbbbbbbbb
From: Cedar Hill Washington | Registered: Aug 2002
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Are you sure that Cosmos Sulphureus & Coreopsis are the same flower? I've never called my Coreopsis a "Cosmo"! The only similarity I see is the texture of the petals. From when they first blossom the center of the Coreopsis stands up a lot taller than that of the Cosmo, & they don't have the same type of leaf, seed heads or seeds! This is what I have here... see how they compare?! ^ ^ ^ Cosmo ^ ^ ^ ^ ~ ~ ~ ^ ^ ^ ^Coreopsis^ ^ ^
I find that the Coreopsis don't last as long as Cosmos do, as cut flowers, & Coreopsis are much more draught tolerant... and they don't taste the same, either! (I must admit... I tried that!)
Mind you, I'm not challenging your info; it certainly wouldn't be the 1st flower I've run across that looks (& tastes) a half-world apart from others within the same family! I just find it VERY interesting, but curious!
Bill, it sounds like you may have fertilized your Cosmos. This is my 1st "serious" year at gardening, & in the past if I planted flowers at all, I just did EZ things that gave results within a short growing season. I found that just as with Nasturtiums, the poorer the soil, the more flowers Cosmos produce. (In my "past life" I was too cheap to spend money on plant food/fertilizer for flowers, so my Nasturtiums & Cosmos NEVER got "fed"... only watered... & then, only when I remembered to do it! Even so, they did great!)
I don't even classify what Cosmos & Nasturtiums like to be planted in as "soil"! That's too much a dignified word for it... they just like plain ol' DIRT! (& we had mostly clay "dirt" in NW Montana... which I don't think could be termed "soil" in anybody's book!) Good luck with your Cosmos next year!
posted
Thanks Bill.....They are my fav. because of the height they provide at the back of your borders...and because they are beautiful in their simplicity.
I'm a huge Cosmos lover--actually they are my favorite plant, that's why I did their profile first....The leaves on the Cosmos Bipannutus, and Cosmos Sulphereus are very different....I grow both each year and the pictures above are out of my own garden with plants grown out of seed packets....Cosmos belongs to the Compositae family.
Coreopsis is actually in the aster family---commonly known as Tickseed(grandiflora)...I actually have some in my garden of the Nana species...although the Moonbeam species is very common. And yes, they are extrememly drought tolerant like the Cosmos are....however Cosmos are annuals and Coreopsis is usually a perennial, although there are some annuals species(there are 80 or more species all together)....
I'm not sure becaue the pic is small, but I think what you thought is Coreopsis is actually Cosmos Sulphereus......
From: Beautiful Western Maryland...zone 6 | Registered: May 2003
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This is the first year I've ever grown Cosmos. Well, actually Brennan planted it one day...we bought a bunch of seeds and he made a little garden of his own. The Cosmos bloomed up until just a few days ago...when the frost got them all. They were so beautiful. I'll never be without them now.
Thanks for the profile, loz...I didn't even know what it was until I posted a picture of it in the "Blooming" topic and someone said "Beautiful Cosmos, Cindy!"
Cindy Faye
bbbbbbbbb Buckle up! It makes it harder for the aliens to suck you out of your car!
Registered: Mar 2004
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I will never be without cosmos either ....they withstand such poor conditions and heat...and give such pretty colored flowers....they really are one of the easiest plants to grow, I always start mine from seed--so easy.
From: Beautiful Western Maryland...zone 6 | Registered: May 2003
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I have to second that, I enjoyed mine alot.. Such a bright orange.. and it was sort of tall.
Used to the marigolds' for an orange colored flower, and they're short... It was a nice change for looking at orange. Not toooooo many orange colored ones.
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
Just wanted to say that the genus Corepsis and genus Cosmos belong to the same family Asteraceae. Compositae is an old family name which has been changed to Asteraceae.
Vera (Greenhouse/Nursery student, Spok. WA)
From: Eastern WA | Registered: Mar 2006
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BTW, I love both plants in my yard. I have the following Coreopsis: C. tinctoria (Plains Coreopsis) a nice re-seedling annua and C. grandiflora 'Early Sunrise', perennial.
From: Eastern WA | Registered: Mar 2006
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Hi Vera, you're exactly right ...seems like a lot of places still use the compositae name though. I wonder when it was changed????
From: Beautiful Western Maryland...zone 6 | Registered: May 2003
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Hi Penny!!! So glad you liked it...Cosmos are my favorite flower.... I like tall plants, and I love the simplicity of it.
From: Beautiful Western Maryland...zone 6 | Registered: May 2003
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I planted the pink Cosmos for the first time last year to fill in a bare spot in the back of one of my beds. I love pink flowers, but I didn't collect any of the seeds last year. Now, I'm wonderng if they will reseed or will I have to plant more this year? I am in zone 5!
patches
bbbbbbbbb "Lord, I love you and I need you, come into my heart, and bless me, my family, my home, and my friends, in Jesus' name. Amen!"
From: Illinois | Registered: Feb 2006
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They just might patches....I'm in zone 6 and I planted a few in moms yard and they reseeded....the ones in my yard didn't though...just keep an eye on that area, you might just get a nice surprise. If they don't reseed, they are SO easy to grow from seed.....one of the easiest I think. Let us know later on if they reseeded for you!
From: Beautiful Western Maryland...zone 6 | Registered: May 2003
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The cosmos I planted last year were already started from the nursery - I think they were Sensation? and they were only about 18" tall. They were great fun and provided color for so long. Which do I look for to get the really tall one? I'll start from seed if I can find.
Thanks!
bbbbbbbbb Sandy R.
From: SW Michigan | Registered: Aug 2005
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Sensation mix usually grows from 3-6' tall....Last year one of mine was as tall as me and I'm 5'10"....I fed it miracle grow a lot though, which actually makes them taller and more leafy, but they take FOREVER to flower that way. I just wanted to see how big I could get it...and lo and behold at the end of august it burst out into flower. Normally my sensations grow to at least 4 feet tall....without feeding.
From: Beautiful Western Maryland...zone 6 | Registered: May 2003
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Thanks Loz. Mine must not have been Sensation, then, because I used Miracle Grow throughout the season. They flowered their little selves silly and looked great, but they were vertically challenged! I'll have to look for the Sensation and make sure I get the TALL kind!!
bbbbbbbbb Sandy R.
From: SW Michigan | Registered: Aug 2005
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Just look on the back of the seed packets to see how tall they should grow. I bought the seashells kind this year as well as more sensations!
From: Beautiful Western Maryland...zone 6 | Registered: May 2003
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And I grew the Sensation and the Seashell and they were both about 3/4ft tall.. I grew the orange too, and they were small/short about 12"/18"....Loved the bright orange and the loves lies bleeding together, what color!!!
and my little birds ate all of my seeds.. Gosh did they have a ball forresting for them.. so much fun to watch...
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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Weezie - Oh boy! Can't remember which Miracle Grow. It's a powder that comes pre-measured in packets inside a green plastic tub, that you can connect to a dispenser on your hose. I don't remember the ratios. I just measured it per gallon and applied with my watering can. I fed everything that way and the only thing I managed to kill was my delphiniums (which hate me).
I gotta find some of that Love Lies Bleeding! Somebody stop me!! I just came home from Lowes with 8 more packs of seeds (including some sensation cosmos)! Can I get counseling for this paid by my health care provider?!? I found my list of seeds from the winter that I've accumulated, and I'd forgotten half of it, then I find more things I "have to" have.
bbbbbbbbb Sandy R.
From: SW Michigan | Registered: Aug 2005
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I doubt it, I haven't been able to get counselling and I've stopped counting the years.. *and now I'm addicted to seeds as well, 3 spring and I'm an addict..I'm sorting and counting and packaging them right now.
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
posted
Ooooooh, I was going to say, most MG fertilizer is more of a nitrogen based component... and would make them grow tall, green growth.. but sometimes, if you've gotten one with the middle number *ie; 10~20~8 will give you more flower growth than green upward growth.. That's why I was wondering about numbers...
Could have been soil compaction, sometimes if the soil is a little bit tougher to get it's roots thru, a plant will stunt it's self before it will not allow blooms and seed production.... *that way it's "race/breed/seed" will continue....
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
posted
I love those pictures of your cosmos Loz. Looks like you can touch them. Never tried growing those from seed, but will look into it next year.
From: Eastlake, Ohio | Registered: Jan 2006
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Ironside....I think you'll love them! And I love taking pictures...glad you like them.
From: Beautiful Western Maryland...zone 6 | Registered: May 2003
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I saw some yesterday that were a white inside and dark pink on the outside... So pretty, but I was with ole grumpy drawers and I'll sneak back and grab them another day ...
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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Sometimes I wake up Grumpy, sometimes I let him sleep.
I grabbed a pack of that variety that's white and dark pink you talked about - can't remember what it's called but sounds like the same one. Can't wait!!
bbbbbbbbb Sandy R.
From: SW Michigan | Registered: Aug 2005
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quote:Originally posted by slredmond: Sometimes I wake up Grumpy, sometimes I let him sleep.
I do tooooooooooo, on his day off, he could sleep til 3:00pm for all I cared somedays... *in his behalf, if he had $$$, he'd be a GRAND GARDENER, reallllly...*
Please come back Sandy with some pictures for us, if you get them to grow.. I would love to see them.
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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I have a tree trunk planter like that.... *not to side track from the cosmos post here* But what did you put in as dirt in the trunk pot? Regular potting soil??? How is it working for you?? Does it dry out often? Mine does, course I'm not all that faithful on watering somedays..
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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Nice pics Bettyboop! I just love Cosmos!!!! They are my favorites!
From: Beautiful Western Maryland...zone 6 | Registered: May 2003
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Hi Weezie, Yes I used potting soil and Organic Humus Manure. So for it is doing really well.Where i have it at it get's sunnny for a bit then in shade.As for the watering i must be like you,So I will check it tomorrowand see how dry are moist it is and let you know. bettyboop1948
From: Cherryville,Missouri | Registered: Mar 2006
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Loz, This is my first time having them ,I just loved them when I seen them.But i did not start with seed's small plants is what i started with.I am glad you liked them.You had some pretty ones I saw.I can see why they are your favorities bettyboop1948
From: Cherryville,Missouri | Registered: Mar 2006
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They don't really sell them around here as plants although in a way I wish they did.....BUT they are SO easy to start from seeds...one of the easiest ever!
I made the mistake a few years ago of feeding them some miracle grow and they grew to be gigantic but didn't flower until really late in the season....It was like Jack and the Beanstalk! They were way taller than I am!
I use mine for cut flower alot.
This year I'm growing sensations mix and the seashells kind!
From: Beautiful Western Maryland...zone 6 | Registered: May 2003
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Did you see the other kind yet Laura?? The one with a solid color in the middle and a darker line around the whole outter petal.. Veryyyy pretty!!!
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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Hi Penny!!! So glad you liked it...Cosmos are my favorite flower.... ![[Love]](graemlins/love.gif)
pink flowers, but I didn't collect any of the seeds last year. Now, I'm wonderng if they will reseed or will I have to plant more this year? ![[kitty]](graemlins/kitty.gif)
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Which do I look for to get the really tall one? ![[Confused]](confused.gif)
I'll start from seed if I can find.![[devil]](graemlins/devil.gif)
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sometimes I let him sleep. ![[clappy]](graemlins/claps.gif)
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