Sulphur Cosmos
Cosmic Orange Cosmos is a vibrant annual flower that earned the 2000 All-America Selections Flower Award for its stunning gleaming orange blooms and effortless growing nature. This Cosmos sulphureus cultivar produces 2-inch flowers with double and semi-double petals on compact 1- to 2-foot plants, flowering prolifically throughout the season with minimal fuss. From seed to first blooms takes just 50 to 60 days, making it perfect for gardeners seeking quick, reliable color in full sun gardens.
Full Sun
Moderate
10-11
?in H x ?in W
Annual
High
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What sets Cosmic Orange Cosmos apart is its combination of award-winning color and genuinely carefree performance. The gleaming tangerine tones are far more saturated than typical cosmos, while the double and semi-double petal forms add texture and fullness that elevate it beyond standard varieties. It blooms continuously from midsummer through frost and actively attracts pollinators, turning your garden into a living beacon for bees and butterflies without demanding deadheading or special care.
Cosmic Orange Cosmos is primarily grown as an ornamental flower for cutting gardens and landscape color. The 2-inch blooms on sturdy stems work beautifully in fresh arrangements, bringing that distinctive tangerine glow to indoor displays. In the garden, it functions as a pollinator magnet, making it valuable for anyone cultivating a bee-friendly landscape or simply wanting to attract butterflies and other beneficial insects.
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost date. Cosmos seeds are small and should be surface-sown or barely covered, pressed lightly into moist seed-starting mix. Keep the soil at 65 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit and provide consistent moisture until germination, which typically occurs in 7 to 14 days.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost date when soil has warmed and daytime temperatures consistently reach 65 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer. Harden off plants gradually by exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days before planting. Space plants 10 inches apart in beds or containers.
Direct sow seeds outdoors after the last spring frost date when soil has warmed. Scatter seeds on the soil surface or press them lightly into the top layer of soil, keeping the bed consistently moist until germination occurs in 7 to 14 days.
Cut flowers for arrangements in early morning when blooms are fully open but still crisp with moisture. Harvest stems just as the double and semi-double flowers reach their full size and deepest color. Re-cut stems at a 45-degree angle and immediately place in water to extend vase life.
Cosmic Orange Cosmos rarely requires pruning beyond the removal of spent flowers to encourage continued blooming throughout the season. As an annual that grows to just 1 to 2 feet tall, it maintains a naturally compact, bushy habit without needing to be cut back or shaped.
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“Cosmic Orange Cosmos earned recognition in 2000 when it won the All-America Selections Flower Award, a prestigious honor that identifies superior new varieties for home gardeners. This recognition cemented its status as a stellar selection worthy of broader cultivation, celebrated specifically for its vigorous, carefree growing habit and the intensity of its gleaming orange color, qualities that set it apart from earlier cosmos introductions.”