Bright Lights Blend Cosmos brings a burst of warm, saturated color to full-sun gardens across all hardiness zones. This cultivar of Cosmos sulphureus grows to a compact 3 feet tall with a spreading habit, producing flowers in a vibrant blend of warm tones that seem to glow in afternoon light. Sow seeds directly after frost danger passes or start them indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your last frost date, and you'll have blooming plants within weeks. Hardy from zones 1 to 12, this variety thrives in lean soil and rewards minimal fussing with continuous color all summer long.
Full Sun
Moderate
1-12
36in H x 36in W
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Moderate
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The real draw of Bright Lights Blend is how effortlessly it delivers saturated, warm-toned blooms on plants that stay reasonably compact and bushy. Unlike some cosmos varieties that demand deadheading to keep flowering, this blend seems to produce flowers relentlessly once established. The combination of golden yellows, oranges, and warm reds in a single seed packet means you'll get natural color variation across your planting, creating a more dynamic display than a single-color selection could offer.
Bright Lights Blend Cosmos shines in summer annual beds and cottage garden borders where its warm colors can anchor a color scheme or tie together complementary plantings. The flowers are excellent for cutting, holding up well in arrangements and bringing that luminous quality indoors. It also works beautifully in containers where its moderate 18- to 36-inch spread can be showcased without crowding.
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Start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your average last frost date. Barely cover the seeds with soil and keep them at 60 degrees Fahrenheit until germination. Transplant seedlings outdoors after hardening them off for several days in a sheltered location.
Move hardened-off seedlings to the garden 1 to 2 weeks after your average last frost date, once soil temperature reaches at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Space plants 12 inches apart.
Sow seeds directly in the garden 1 to 2 weeks after your average last frost date, when soil temperature is at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Barely cover the seeds with soil.
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