Cosmos are easy-to-grow, versatile annuals that produce daisy-like flowers through summer and into autumn, often up until the first frosts.
They can be used to plug gaps in borders, grown as a feature in their own right, or used in container displays. Cosmos flowers attract a variety of bees, butterflies and hoverflies, and also make a great cut flower.
How to grow cosmos
You can grow cosmos easily from seed or buy young plants in late spring. For best results, grow cosmos in full sun in well-drained soil. There’s no need to stake plants. Deadhead spent blooms regularly to prolong flowering.
More on growing cosmos:
We’ve picked 12 of our favourite cosmos varieties to grow, below.
Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Dazzler’
Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Dazzler’ bears carmine-red blooms that really do dazzle in the garden, from early summer to mid autumn.
Height x Spread: 1m x 60cm.
Cosmos atrosanguineus
Formerly called Bidens atrosanguinea, chocolate cosmos is now a fashionable late summer highlight in warm borders, as much for its scent of vanilla and hot chocolate as for the dusky brownish-red blooms.
H x S: 90cm x 45cm
Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Gazebo Red’
Cosmos ‘Gazebo Red’ is a medium-sized and bushy, early-flowering variety of cosmos, with lovely large, velvety red blooms.
H x S: 75cm x 30cm.
Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Fizzy Pink’
Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Fizzy Pink’ is a superb, tall, eye-catching annual, with flowers in strong colours ranging from white to carmine.
H x S: 1.2m x 30cm.
Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Picotee’
Cosmos ‘Picotee’ has pretty, eye-catching blooms The soft pinkish-white petals are fringed with an irregular deep crimson.
H x S: 1.2m x 60cm.
Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Purity’
Cosmos ‘Purity’ is a pure white cosmos that makes the perfect foil for more colourful flowers. It’s a beautiful garden plant but also makes an excellent cut flower.
H x S: 1.2m x 60cm.
Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Rubenza’
Cosmos ‘Rubenza’ has two-tone flowers which emerge a deep velvety red and mature to a rich rose. As it’s more compact than other varieties, it works well in a container.
H x S: 90cm x 60cm.
Cosmos ‘Sonata White’
Cosmos ‘Sonata White’ bears large white flowers on compact plants, making it another variety that’s ideal for growing in pots.
H x S: 60cm x 38cm.
Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Sea Shells’
Cosmos ‘Sea Shells’ has unusual, fluted petals like a sea shell. Bright pink petals fan out from a yellow, button-like centre.
H x S: 1m x 90cm.
Cosmos bipannatus ‘Sensation Mixed’
Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Sensation Mixed’ bears large, daisy-like flowers in shades of pink and white, throughout the summer and right up until the first frosts.
H x S: 1.2m x 50cm.
Cosmos ‘Pink Popsocks’
Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Pink Popsocks’ is a compact cosmos, bearing marshmallow-pink flowers in three types – single, anemone-type and double pompons. It’s excellent for cutting and is perfect for growing in pots.
H x S: 60cm x 30cm
Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Xanthos’
Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Xanthos’ is an unusual yellow-flowered cosmos. Plants are compact, so are ideal for growing at the front of the border or in pots.
H x S: 60cm x 30cm.
Cosmos ‘Cupcakes’
Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Cupcakes’ is an interesting cultivar, bearing fused, rather than separate petals of single and semi-double flowers.
H x S: 1.2m x 60cm.
Cosmos ‘Double Click Cranberries’
An elegant cosmos, ‘Double Click Cranberries’ bears semi-double, dark pink, almost ruffled petals, around a yellow centre. It makes a beautiful cut flower.
H x S: 1m x 60cm.
Cosmos sulphureus ‘Diablo’
‘Diablo’ is an exciting orange-red cosmos. Semi-double flowers are helped on sturdy plants. Grow them among blue cornflowers for a dramatic combination.
H x S: 60cm x 30cm.
