Candystripe Cosmos is a stunning annual flower that brings effortless charm to any garden, thriving in hardiness zones 2 through 11 and reaching 36 to 72 inches tall. This heirloom, open-pollinated cultivar of Cosmos bipinnatus produces striking bicolored blooms in just 60 to 90 days from seed, making it one of the easiest flowers to grow from start to finish. Its drought tolerance and trouble-free nature mean minimal fussing, while its exceptional cutting qualities and butterfly-attracting power make it equally valuable in bouquets and garden displays. Plant it in full sun with spacing of 12 inches apart, and you'll have a prolific bloomer that asks for very little in return.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-11
Sunlight
Full Sun
Soil
Well-drained Loam, Tolerates Poor Soil
Preferred Temp65-85°F
Growth Stats
72 in
Height
—
Width
12 in
Spacing
60–90
Days to Harvest
PeriodAnnual
TypeBush
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
—
Zones
2-11
Size
72in H x ?in W
Growth
Annual
Care
Moderate
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Highlights
Candystripe lives up to its name with jewel-toned petals striped in contrasting colors that seem almost too vivid to be real. The nearly pest and disease-free nature of this cosmos makes it a rare gift for gardeners who want reliable performance without spraying or worrying; mass plantings create a breathtaking display that draws butterflies like a magnet. Best of all, the flowers hold up beautifully in arrangements, especially when cut first thing in the morning as the blooms are just opening.
Common Uses
Candystripe Cosmos is primarily grown as a cut flower and garden display plant. The blooms excel in fresh arrangements and bouquets, particularly when harvested in early morning when the flowers have just opened. In the garden, it serves as a pollinator magnet, attracting butterflies and other beneficial insects while providing long-lasting color from midsummer through frost.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Early Summer
First Harvest
Not Applicable
Last Harvest
Not Applicable
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your average last frost date. Sow at a soil temperature of 60°F, keeping seeds barely covered. Transplant seedlings outdoors after hardening off once soil temperatures reach at least 60°F.
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant seedlings outdoors 4 to 6 weeks before your average last frost date, or 1 to 2 weeks after your average last frost date once soil temperature is reliably at least 60°F. Space plants 12 inches apart with 18 inches between rows.
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds outdoors 1 to 2 weeks after your average last frost date, when soil temperature is at least 60°F. Barely cover seeds with soil.
Harvesting
For cut flowers, select stems with blooms that have just opened and harvest first thing in the morning when the stems are most turgid. Cutting flowers regularly will encourage the plant to produce more blooms throughout the season.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Scientific Classification
Cosmos Cav.
Family
Asteraceae
Genus
Cosmos
Duration
Annual
Growth Habit
Spreading
Native Status
L48 (I)CAN (I)
History & Origin
“Candystripe Cosmos is an heirloom variety that has been preserved and grown for generations by home gardeners seeking easy color with minimal intervention. As an open-pollinated cultivar, seed savers have maintained its distinctive striped character through careful selection, allowing gardeners today to save their own seed and continue the lineage forward. This variety belongs to the broader cosmos family, which has been cultivated in gardens for well over a century and remains prized for its combination of beauty and resilience.”