Whole plant
Overall shape, height, branching and growth habit.
Flowers
Cosmos growing guide
Tall airy annual producing masses of delicate daisy flowers in pink, white and red. Fast growing, drought tolerant, and incredibly effective at attracting beneficial insects.
Photo reference
Use this real-world photo as the main plant reference, then compare it with the botanical drawings below for leaf, flower and harvest details.
5-10 daysGermination
55-65 daysHarvest
30 cmSpacing
0.5 cmSow depth
FullSun
TenderFrost
1 cm/weekWater
6-8pH
Planting calendar by climate
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| Climate | Sow | Transplant / Plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical | Apr - Aug | Apr - Aug | Jan - Dec |
| Subtropical | Aug - Dec | Aug - Dec | Oct - Mar |
| Mediterranean | Sep - Nov | Sep - Nov | Nov - Feb |
| Temperate | Oct - Dec | Oct - Dec | Dec - Mar |
| Cool | Oct - Dec | Oct - Dec | Dec - Mar |
| Arid | Sep - Nov | Sep - Nov | Nov - Feb |
Botanical reference
Compare the whole plant first, then check the leaf, flower and harvest detail to identify what Cosmos should look like as it grows.
Leaf detail
Leaf shape, edges, colour and vein pattern.
Flower detail
Flower colour, structure and where blooms appear.
Harvest / detail
Fruit, root, seed, pod or the strongest identifying feature.
Cooking and eating ideas
A quick garden-to-table guide for using Cosmos after harvest.
Raw / fresh
Use edible flowers sparingly as colourful garnishes, salad accents, teas, or infused syrups when the plant is known edible.
Cooked
Use edible blooms in teas, fritters, syrups, baking, or as a garnish after cooking.
Store / preserve
Dry edible petals for tea or decoration where appropriate.
Try: Salad garnish, Tea, Syrup, Edible decoration.
Good companions
Tomato, Cucumber, Beans
Avoid near
No avoid list yet.
Growing note
Poor soil produces better flowering. Don't over-fertilise.
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