Sonata Purple Shades Cosmos brings a cascade of deep purple and mauve blooms to summer and fall gardens, flowering reliably from seed to bloom in 56 to 84 days. This cultivar of Cosmos bipinnatus grows to a compact 24 to 30 inches tall, making it sturdy enough to stand without staking while filling garden beds with color from June through November. The flowers attract pollinators throughout the season, and the plant's low water needs mean it thrives in hot, dry conditions where other annuals struggle.
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Full Sun
Low
2-11
30in H x 18in W
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Moderate
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Dense, branching growth packed with purple-shaded blooms arrives faster than many cosmos varieties, typically flowering within two months of sowing. The compact 24 to 30-inch frame stays tidy without constant deadheading, while deep droughts barely faze this plant once established. Bees and butterflies visit continuously from midsummer straight through the first hard frost, making it a living pollinator magnet for months on end.
Sonata Purple Shades Cosmos excels in mixed flower borders, cottage gardens, and pollinator plantings where continuous summer color is desired. The airy branching habit and extended bloom window from June through November suit it to cutting gardens, though the delicate stems hold best when gathered in early morning. Mass plantings create bold sweeps of purple, while single plants soften hard garden edges with their fine, feathery foliage and naturally graceful form.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors in pots 4 to 5 weeks before your last spring frost date. Maintain soil temperature around 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal germination and growth. Seeds will sprout within 3 to 10 days.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after your last spring frost date, spacing them 12 to 18 inches apart. Harden off seedlings gradually by exposing them to outdoor conditions over several days before transplanting.
Direct sow seeds in spring after your last frost date, scattering them where you want them to bloom. Keep soil consistently moist until seedlings emerge and become established.
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