Select Cosmos

Cosmos is a terrific sun-loving, water-frugal, flower-bright plant. Cosmos is easy to grow with long stem flowers perfect for cut flower arrangements. Cosmos is great fun for the beginning or experienced gardener. Bring popular varieties of this cosmic plant to your garden in these easy steps.

Things You'll Need

• Cosmos seeds
• Cosmos seedlngs
• Cosmos bedding plants

Instructions

1. 

   Prepare a garden home for Cosmos by doing almost nothing. Cosmos does well with poor soil, full sun and little water. The pine needle-shaped seeds usually sprout easily in 7 to 10 days. Most Cosmos are annuals that like hot dry weather. For cool climates, get a head start by seeding cosmos just before the last frost or buying established plants at a local garden center.

2. 

   Choose the popular Cosmos known as Cosmos bipinnatus for most gardens. This plant grows 3 to 6 feet tall and comes in a wide range of colors from white to purple. It blooms easily and attracts butterflies and birds. It requires little care. Every month or so shear the plant back to one-third or one-half its height for fresh growth and continued blooming. Its feathery foliage blends well with other garden plants. Cosmos is drought tolerant so plant it with other flowers or shrubs that do not need much water. Plant Cosmos for color among evergreen shrubs and herbal bushes like rosemary. It blends well with other flowers and makes an excellent cut flower.

3. 

   Select Yellow Cosmos for a tall plant that needs little care and forms a nice background plant for other flowers. This plant grows 4 to 7 feet tall. If it grows too tall or lanky, it probably has too much water or fertilizer. Cut it back to about 18 inches when seeds appear for better foliage. Though the species is called Yellow Cosmos, gardeners can find this plant with varieties of white, yellow, orange and red flowers. In some regions Yellow Cosmos known as Cosmos sulphureus is very invasive and takes over native plants. Check with your local nursery or agricultural advisors if this is a concern.

4. Seek dwarf varieties of Cosmos for smaller plants and flowers. Dwarf plants grow up to 3 feet depending on the variety. They are considered dwarf plants because they are about half the size of other Cosmos. Trim them as needed for containers and borders.

5. 

   Plant Chocolate Cosmos for a unique deep burgundy flower that smells like chocolate. This Cosmos is a sun-loving perennial that is more tolerant of rich soil than other Cosmos. In cold climates plant Chocolate Cosmos in a container and bring it indoors in winter after the foliage dies back in autumn. Though Cosmos comes in many varieties, these popular choices bring color and easy care to any garden.