Information about Cosmos Flowers
Cosmos flowers include about 20 different annual or perennial plants that produce brightly colored daisy-like single or double flowers in a variety of shades of red, pink, orange, yellow and white. For decades, Cosmos have retained their popularity as easy-to-grow garden plants. Does this Spark an idea?
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Characteristics
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Cosmos range from white and light pink to scarlet and dark burgundy. Cosmos flowers are part of the Asteraceae family that includes similarly shaped sunflowers, daisies and asters, according to The Flower Expert. All of those flowers are produced in a capitulum, a flower base that's surrounded by rings of petals.
Cosmos flowers grow up to 4 inches in diameter on wispy stems that reach up to an average of 3 feet in height. Some varieties can grow to more than 6-feet tall, according to American Meadows, while some shorter, bushier hybrids have been created.
Flowers are produced in abundance throughout the summer season, but the plant dies with the first frost.
Seeds
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Cosmos are considered one of the easiest flowers to grow from seed. While generally considered annual flowers, cosmos can reseed as perennials in warm climates. Most hybrid cosmos prefer fertile loamy soil but can tolerate arid environments and are generally drought-resistant, according to American Meadows.
The seeds of cosmos look like tiny pine needles. They are considered one of the easiest flower seeds to grow, according to The Plant Expert.
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Types
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Chocolate cosmos, known as Cosmos atrosanguinea, produce blooms in a dark burgundy or nearly brown color and a fragrance described as a combination of vanilla and chocolate.
Lace cosmos have more petals than other varieties and fern-like foliage, according to The Plant Expert.
Cosmos sulphureus flowers resemble marigolds in color and structure.
Uses
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In addition to adding color and height to gardens, cosmos are grown to attract birds, especially goldfinches, and are planted as ground-cover along state highways, according to American Meadows.
History
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Cosmos are native to Mexico, other arid parts of Central America and the desert Southwest United States, according to American Meadows.
The flower is thought to have been named by Spanish priests in Mexico who grew the tall colorful plant in mission gardens, according to Flowerinfo.com. The priests reportedly liked the flower's symmetrical petals and named it after the Greek word for a well-ordered universe.
In 1999, the World Kindness Movement conference in Tokyo adopted the cosmos as its symbol, according to Flowerinfo.com.
Growing
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The Gardener's Network considers cosmos to be one of the best seeds for a beginning gardener to plant. Seeds should be sown directly into garden soil after the last frost. They germinate quickly and need little attention.
Cosmos prefer full sun to partial shade, according to the Gardener's Network. They thrive in dry or poor soil conditions, but benefit from applications of an all-purpose fertilizer once or twice per season.
Taller plants may require staking unless planted in an area protected from wind.
Symbolism
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In the language of flowers, cosmos represent peace and order. When given as a gift, they express joy in love and life, according to Flowerinfo.org.
Cosmos are the flower for October and second wedding anniversaries.
A single plant is referred to as both a cosmo and a cosmos flower.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit cosmos flower. image by mdb from Fotolia.com purple cosmo flower image by Yuen Hung Cheng from Fotolia.com cosmos image by gagou from Fotolia.com
