Bipinnatus
Fizzy Rose Picotee Cosmos is a showstopping heirloom annual that commands attention with its pale pink petals edged in dazzling magenta, creating a distinctive picotee pattern that feels almost hand-painted. The semi-double blooms, featuring a smaller inner row of petals, arrive in 60 to 90 days and grow on plants reaching 3.5 feet tall, making them exceptional for cutting gardens, landscape displays, and even containers. Thriving in zones 2 through 11 with minimal fuss, this cosmos handles full sun and moderate soil conditions with the easygoing nature heirlooms are known for, rewarding gardeners with abundant flowers from midsummer through fall.
12-18 inches apart
Full Sun
—
2-11
?in H x ?in W
Annual
High
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The pale pink petals with their magenta picotee edge create an almost delicate, jewel-toned effect that stands out sharply against the finely textured foliage. The semi-double form, created by that extra inner row of petals, gives these flowers a sophistication that single cosmos simply cannot match. Florists and cut flower growers love these for arrangements and sales, and once you see them in a vase, you'll understand why. They reach a substantial 3.5 feet, so they command space in the garden without looking floppy or awkward. Best of all, they germinate quickly, mature reliably, and bloom prolifically with virtually no coddling required.
Fizzy Rose Picotee Cosmos excels as a cut flower, with stems long enough and flowers sturdy enough to carry to the vase without dropping petals. The distinctive picotee markings make these particularly valuable for floral design and commercial cut flower sales, where their eye-catching appearance commands premium prices. They work beautifully in mixed borders and cottage gardens, where their airy height and fine foliage provide textural contrast to heavier plants. Container growers appreciate them too, as the semi-double blooms and compact growth habit suit containers well when spaced appropriately.
Start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your last frost date. Sow seeds on the soil surface or press them gently into seed starting mix, covering with only 1/8 to 1/4 inch of soil. Keep germination temperatures between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit; seeds will sprout in 7 to 14 days. Provide bright light as soon as seedlings emerge to prevent stretching. Harden off seedlings over 7 to 10 days before transplanting outdoors after the last frost date.
Transplant hardened-off seedlings outdoors after your last frost date, when soil has warmed and nighttime temperatures consistently stay above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Space plants 10 inches apart in full sun. Gently firm soil around each transplant and water in well, but avoid waterlogging the soil.
Direct sow seeds outdoors after the last frost date once soil has warmed. Scatter seeds or press them lightly into soil, covering with 1/8 to 1/4 inch of soil mix. Keep soil evenly moist until germination occurs in 7 to 14 days. Once seedlings are 2 to 3 inches tall, thin to 10 inches apart.
Cut flowers in the early morning when stems are fully hydrated and blooms are freshly opened but not yet fully mature; these semi-double flowers will continue opening slightly in the vase. Use clean, sharp scissors or floral shears to cut stems at least 12 inches long, removing any foliage that would sit below the waterline. Fizzy Rose Picotee Cosmos flowers will last 5 to 7 days in a vase with fresh water changed every other day.
Pinch back the growing tips when seedlings are 6 inches tall to encourage branching and fuller, bushier plants that produce more flowers. Deadhead spent blooms regularly throughout the season to redirect energy into new flower production and keep plants flowering abundantly until frost.
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