Hi mxk3,

I grew Cosmos "Sea Stars" last year and "Sensations" this year. I started them from seed. They grow quickly and do get to be around 3 to 4 feet tall. I grew mine in planters in full sun with Miracle Gro potting mix. Due to being in planters, I had to water daily. I had more flowers from the Sensations than I did with the Sea Stars. The two pictures are Sensations. I am thinking about trying the orange variety next year.
BTG
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I love, love love cosmos! I've grown Sonata, Gazebo, Picotee, Daydream, Seashells, Double Click, Psyche, Sensation, and Purity for white, pinks and reds.

I've got to admit to having a lot of reseeding this year, so I'm not sure exactly which were which, except for the Purity (white) and the Seashells. And I could narrow down the Picotee and Daydream, although I wasn't sure between the two which was which! I had no luck with the Double Click. But other than that one, they were all easy, and beautiful - there are still a few blooming today! I pretty much neglected them all season and they still did well. They are in almost full sun, in lasagna beds, so the soil is pretty good, although since they do reseed, I've had them come up and do well in poorer soil also. I've got the most gorgeous magenta reseeder that is about 5 or 6 feet tall and still blooming!

For oranges and yellows,I've also grown Bright Lights, and this year, one labeled just "Garden Yellow". The first year, I loved Bright Lights. Gorgeous colors! Last year, and this year, I didn't have as much luck with them, and as a matter of fact, had no blooms this year. The Garden Yellow germinated and grew well, but did not bloom until late September. I was unhappy with that at first, but since they were in a bed with yellow and orange marigolds that really looked great in fall, I ended up being happy with the pale yellow cosmos blooms so late in the season.

I would recommend growing from seed. Very easy. And you get 100 seeds for the price of a six-pack. Oh, and I think the Gazebo and Sonata are shorter varieties, about two feet tall. I like to mix the shorter and taller ones together.

Good luck! You'll love them!
:)
Dee

My two big cosmos are now 6 and 7 feet tall got to be 8 feet tall, never bloomed. Frost finally got them.

Ooooooh Yeaaaah!!The yellow and red varieties are my absolute favorites,and I'll grow them until my dying day.Best to buy them at your garden center in June there in your zone.

Good morning folks. I have light purple and white cosmo seeds. It was given to me by a neighbor closeby(not really close). However, I forgot to ask her how to sow it in spring. Do I just throw the seeds, step on the seeds lightly and then water it?

Thanks!

I just discovered cosmos a couple year ago. Each season, I admire a neighbor of mine's garden. I was determined to find out what this gorgeous bright vibrant flower was on the most delecate foliage, and determined to grow it in my yard.

I finally have some cosmos seeds in hand-sensation mix and a beautiful mix of autumn colors-yellow, gold, red, orange. I've not only never grown cosmos, but I 've never grown things from seeds!

I am excited to see how I do.

I also acquired cosmos seeds this year. I snatched a few from neighbor's gardens, bought a few and traded on this site for the rest. I think I must qualify as a lover since I must have 30 varieties!! I can't wait to see these in my yard, and save seed for others next fall.

mxk3-
Cosmos are about the easiest thing to sow there is. I wouldn't waste your money in our zone on plants in the nurseries. Have you tried winter-sowing? I'll put up a link to the forum in a sec, but it's super easy.
When kept deadheaded, Cosmos just keep going & going til snow flies, almost! I use them as final finishes in a bed that holds Iris in spring, then Poppies, then I clear it out and put in the Cosmos that I sow in April or May in containers (winter-sowing style). They are ready to be transplanted right when the poppies poop out.

Anyway, I've grown several varieties, and have found that I like the shorties, too. Here's some to try:

Dwarf Sonata and Dwarf Sensation- Hart's seeds carries these; not sure about other brands. Deep pink, lighter pink and white grow about 24"

Bright Lights or Polidor: Bright Lights is Orange & Yellow Mixed, Polidor has a red in there, too- Very nice, and a bit taller- closer to 3'

Double-Click are nice doubles, but are a little taller- 36" and if your soil is excellent, they can get more like 4 - 4.5 feet.

Shorties: "Cosmic" series are about 10-12" and come in Orange, Red & Yellow.

Check the packages for height- the real tall ones are pretty in bloom, but if you're not looking for that height, they can look unruly and weedy.

Here's a link to the Winter Sowing Forum- you can definitely start them now since they are a reseeding annual, and here's a link to some pix of other varieties of Cosmos at Swallowtail Garden Seeds:
Cosmos at Swallowtail Seeds

Here is a link that might be useful: Winter Sowing Forum

Over the years I have grown MANY varieties and one of my favorites remain 'Psyche Mix' ... 'Sonata', is another good one, it's a compact grower with large blooms.

I don't know if it was just me, though I was a disappointed with 'Double Click' ... the blooms were too small ...

Terry

Cosmos is as easy as dirt to grow from seed and anyone who sells them in a six-pack is totally robbing you! Just remember, they bloom best in poor soil. While their lacy foliage is also gorgeous, that's all you'll get if you plant them in fertile soils! They can grow up to 6' tall quite easily so give them vertical height. Horizontal space is not as important and they will support each other without stakes.

Not to mention the facts that they are drought tolerant, survive light frosts and summer heat, attract loads of butterflies and are great cut flowers!

What's not to love? My favorite is the Sensation Cosmos. Though I also like Seashell. Pop over to valueseeds and cheapseeds to take a gander at their selection.

I haven't grown cosmos for years and couldn't resist buying
seeds of 'Psyche'...(it's supposed to be a double, magenta colored flower).
I'll be starting them indoors(and I'll winter sow some)because I hope to have blooms earlier than August.
Anyone have experience getting early blooms?

Agree with opinion on Double-Click. Pretty blooms, but small on the size of the plants they topped. Need to keep deadheaded to keep blooms going.

Don't agree with 'fertile soil' assessment, as I have a small bed typically devoted to cosmos, and it's excellent soil made more excellent by amending every year with cow-manure based compost. Here's a shot from the cosmos-bed in '06 (Dwarf Sensations that year)

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In '07 I had the double-clicks in there- see how the flowers seem too small for the size of the plants? Mine got about a foot taller than the 36" stated on the package:

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Not sure what I'll put in there this year, but LOVE the cosmos, so I'll check out that Psyche, and see what else I can find in the 'pink' arena.

mmqchdygg, those Dwarf Sensations had put on a very nice display for you :). This year I'm gonna try the Gazebo mix, the description says the blooms cover the plants, guess will see for myself. Parks offers the Psyche Mix on page 76 of their catalogue, on their discount page. I really like the bloom style of this variety.

I won't again be growing Double Click, the small blooms were cute, though didn't grab my attention ... though, I did get one off type with awesome large bicolored blooms, I've kept the seed and hope it comes decently true.

Terry

Orange variety

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Here are my cosmos shots last year. I love them, so easy to grow and very low in maintainance. Direct sowed them, watered them lightly for the first few days then I forgot about them. :)

I'll be direct sowing them again around May 15.

Pink with yellow center, and some very light hue of lavender
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Cosmos after it got knocked down by storm
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Cosmic Orange
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I've grown them from seed, too. Had a coupon for local nursery, so I bought a 4-pack. It's so chilly here, I'm worried. Should I plant them? Or wait till next week? And since they are blooming now, will they continue all summer if I deadhead and water them?

Seeds were easier. And less expensive (even with a coupon!)

I saw 2 to 3 volunteers about 2 weeks ago. It's been an unusual winter here. I'll check them when I get home tonight because we just had about 40F last night. I'm not sure if it can take that temp.

Last year, I direct seeded them late May. I'll do the same this year but a bit earlier.

dewsky,

After visiting the area just few minutes ago, I'm thinking of dropping more seeds. I saw 9 seedlings :) So they do reseed :D It's just so windy and cold right now :(