By Lindsey Strand

Imagine…bright colorful disks gracefully balanced on long slender stems, imagine lacey foliage, and best of all, imagine a plant that thrives on poor soil!Well it’s not imagination, it’s Cosmos!These beautiful annual and tender perennial plants are found wild in Mexico.They’ll grow from 18 inches to 6 feet high.The leaves are 3 to 5 inches long and finely divided.

Several species of Cosmos are grown; the most popular is Cosmos bipinnatus Cav.It may be pink, rose, crimson, lilac, or white in flower that are up to 4 inches in diameter atop a 4 to 5 foot stem.Several species of Cosmos and their hybrids are available to gardeners.When grown as perennials, Zone 9-10 are required, but Cosmos are commonly grown as annuals in Zone 5-10.Cosmos enjoy bright sunlight, adequate moisture, and well-drained sandy soils.Cosmos is very easy to grow from seed and can be sown right in the garden in warmer zones.Seeds may also be sown indoors in a 70-degree temperature, 4 to 6 weeks before it’s safe to plant outdoors.They should be planted in pots or pans of loam, leaf mold, and sand.The baby plants are transplanted to flats or are potted individually in small pots. Cosmos can be planted in a variety of areas.Roadsides, garden backgrounds, and borders are a few ways to plant them.If you enjoy cut flowers, Comos is a dependable producer throughout the summer.Comos is easily germinated, has spectacular flowers that are great for cutting and is virtually pest free- these attributes make it great for kids and beginners

REFERENCES

1.http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/wildseed/24/24.5.html

2.http://www.desert-tropicals.com

3.http://www.ext.vt.edu/departments/envirohort/articles/herbaceous_plants/coscult.html

4.http://www.findarticles.com

5.http://www.msue.msu.edu/msue/imp/mod03/01700288.html