Dwarf Cosmos
Xanthos Cosmos is a breakthrough cultivar that brings something genuinely new to the cosmos family, soft butter-yellow and pale ivory blooms that seem almost impossible in this sun-loving annual. Named for the Greek word for yellow, this Fleuroselect medal-winning variety produces oversized, elegantly showy single flowers on compact 20-25 inch plants that bloom reliably from summer through fall. Whether you're growing it in the garden, tucking it into containers, or cutting stems for indoor arrangements, this early-maturing heirloom reaches full bloom in just 60 to 90 days, making it perfect for getting color quickly.
Full Sun
High
2-11
25in H x 18in W
Annual
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
What sets Xanthos apart is its distinctive pale golden palette, an unexpected color breakthrough in a genus more famous for reds and pinks. The plants stay dwarf and dense, yet produce abundantly large, showy blooms that feel disproportionately generous for their compact size. This is a variety that combines the reliability of an early bloomer with the visual impact of a premium cut flower, all while remaining ridiculously easy to grow and incredibly drought tolerant once established.
Xanthos Cosmos excels as a cut flower, with gardeners harvesting stems in the morning when petals are just opening for the longest vase life. Its compact, productive growth habit makes it equally valuable as a landscape accent plant, a reliable container specimen for patios and porches, and a pollinator magnet that brings butterflies and other beneficial insects into the garden throughout the growing season.
Start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your average last spring frost date. Sow seeds shallowly—just barely covering them with soil—and keep the growing medium at 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Seeds typically sprout within 7 to 14 days under these conditions.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after your last frost date when soil temperature reaches at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Space plants 10 inches apart. Harden off seedlings gradually over several days before moving them to their final location.
Direct sow seeds in spring after your last frost date, when soil temperature is at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Sow shallowly at a depth of 1/8 to 1/4 inch and keep soil consistently moist until seedlings emerge.
For cut flowers, harvest in the morning when blooms are freshest and petals are just opening. Use a clean knife dipped in a 10% household bleach solution to cut stems. Place immediately in a vase with a few drops of bleach added to the water to extend vase life and keep flowers vibrant through multiple days of display.
Minimal pruning is needed for this compact cultivar. Light pinching in early growth stages can encourage bushier development, but the dwarf habit naturally produces a dense, well-proportioned plant without intervention.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
“Xanthos represents modern horticultural innovation within the cosmos genus. Its development marks a significant moment in breeding work, earning recognition with a Fleuroselect medal, one of Europe's highest honors for new ornamental varieties. The cultivar's name draws directly from ancient Greek, honoring the color palette that breeders worked to achieve: a warm, buttery yellow tone that had been elusive in cosmos cultivation until this variety emerged.”