Not only are all types of cosmos easy and inexpensive to grow, they produce an abundance of pretty, daisy-like flowers that can be cut for the vase during summer and early fall. They are native to Mexico, where they bloom in swathes of pink, white, and orange in sun-baked meadows and scrub. The name derives from the Greek kosmos, meaning ‘beauty and harmony of the universe’, and was adopted by Spanish missionary priests in Mexico, who appreciated the flower’s evenly arranged circle of petals.
There are three main types of cosmos widely available to gardeners: two annuals and one perennial. The annual forms (Cosmos bipinnatus and C. sulphureus) are half-hardy, which means their seeds must be sown under cover before risk of frost has passed. Having just one year to set seed, they will bloom with great abundance. C. sulphureus produces zesty-yellow, red, or orange blooms, while C. bipinnatus is usually pink or white. The tuberous perennial form is the chocolate-scented burgundy C. atrosanguineus, and you should grow this cosmos as you grow a dahlia.
