FlowerCosmos
Sensation Mixture Cosmos
Sensation Mixture Cosmos brings timeless, classic beauty to any garden with its reliable profusion of daisy-like blooms in rose, white, and pink. These hardy annuals grow to 36 to 60 inches tall and flower in just 40 to 49 days, making them perfect for gardeners who want quick, cheerful color without the wait. The Sensation Mix is an open-pollinated heirloom variety that has earned its place as a garden favorite for generations, thriving in full sun across hardiness zones 9 to 10.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
9-10
Sunlight
Full Sun
Soil
Well-drained Loam, Tolerates Poor Soil
Growth Stats
60 in
Height
TypeSpreading
Spacing
12
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
—
Zones
9-10
Size
60in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
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Highlights
You'll get neat, 2-inch daisy-like blooms in a charming mix of rose, white, and pink colors that bloom prolifically throughout the season. These cosmos grow into substantial 36-inch shrubs that work beautifully lining the back of borders or displayed on a patio where their airy foliage and cheerful flowers can be appreciated up close. The open-pollinated nature means you can save seeds year after year, making this an economical choice that connects you to generations of gardeners who've done the same.
Common Uses
Sensation Mixture Cosmos serves primarily as a flowering ornamental for garden display and cut flower arrangements. The tall, 36 to 60-inch plants are well-suited for the back of flower borders where their airy structure and colorful blooms create a light, natural backdrop, or they can be grown in containers on patios as a seasonal focal point. The long stems and profuse flowering habit make them excellent candidates for cutting fresh bouquets throughout the blooming season.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your last frost date at temperatures around 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Sow seeds on the soil surface or barely press them into moist seed-starting mix, as they benefit from light for germination. Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged until seedlings emerge, which typically takes 7 to 10 days.
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost date when soil has warmed and daytime temperatures consistently reach 60 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days before planting. Space transplants 12 inches apart in full sun.
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds outdoors after the last frost date when soil is warm. Scatter seeds on the soil surface and press gently into contact with soil; do not cover, as seeds require light to germinate. Keep soil moist until seedlings are established.
Pruning
Deadhead spent flowers regularly throughout the season to encourage branching and continuous blooming. Pinching back the growing tips of young plants when they reach 4 to 6 inches tall will promote bushier growth and more flower stems, resulting in a fuller, more compact plant.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Scientific Classification
Cosmos bipinnatus
Family
Asteraceae
Genus
Cosmos
Growth Habit
Spreading
Native Status
L48 (I)CAN (I)
History & Origin
“Sensation Mix cosmos represents a direct lineage to the classic cosmos varieties that became garden staples in the early 20th century. As an open-pollinated heirloom strain, it carries the genetic stability that allowed gardeners historically to save seeds and replant with confidence, preserving the exact same flower colors and plant characteristics season after season. This variety embodies the seed-saving tradition that kept beloved garden plants alive through family gardens and community seed exchanges.”