Garden cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus, Icon. 1: 10 (1791))

Family: Asteraceae

Author: Cav.

Bibliography: Icon. 1: 10 (1791)

Year: 1791

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Cosmos

Vegetable: False

Observations: Mexico

Description

The Garden cosmos, known scientifically as Cosmos bipinnatus, is a striking and vibrant annual plant that graces gardens with its delicate, daisy-like flowers. Originating from Mexico, this plant has captivated gardeners worldwide with its effortless beauty and resilience.

Recognized for its tall, slender stems and finely divided, feathery leaves, the Garden cosmos creates an airy and elegant presence in any floral arrangement or garden bed. Its blossoms, which come in an array of colors including shades of pink, white, and magenta, are a stunning addition to both formal and informal landscapes.

The flowers of Cosmos bipinnatus are not only visually appealing but also attract a variety of pollinators, such as butterflies and bees, thereby supporting local ecosystems and promoting biodiversity. These blooms typically emerge in late summer and can continue to flourish until the first frost.

Cosmos bipinnatus belongs to the Asteraceae family, a large and diverse family known for its composite flower heads. The plant was first described in 1791, with the original citation found in Icon. 1: 10, underscoring its long-standing presence and importance in botanical literature.

This plant thrives best in full sun but is also tolerant of a range of soil types, provided they are well-draining. The ease of growing and maintaining Cosmos bipinnatus makes it a popular choice for gardeners of all levels of experience. Moreover, it is relatively drought-tolerant, meaning it requires minimal watering once established.

In addition to its ornamental appeal, the Garden cosmos is culturally significant in its native region. It is often associated with joy and peace, reflecting the carefree and vibrant nature of the flowers themselves.

In summary, the Garden cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) is a delightful addition to any garden, offering a blend of beauty, ease of care, and ecological benefits. Its alluring flowers and historical richness continue to charm plant enthusiasts around the globe.

Common Names

Ita: cosmea
Fra: cosmos, cosmos bipenné
Eng: cosmos, garden cosmos, mexican aster, mexican-aster, annual cosmos
Deu: kosmee, schmuckkörbchen, fiederblättriges schmuckkörbchen
Est: paprastoji kosmėja
Lit: paprastoji kosmėja
Dan: stolt kavaler
Por: beijo-de-moça, cosmos-de-jardim, cósmea, estrela-do-monte, picão-rosa
Spa: girasol morado, mirasol
Hun: kerti pillangóvirág
Ces: krásenka zpeřená
Swe: rosenskära
Nld: cosmos
Cym: cosmos mecsico
En: Garden cosmos, Cosmos, Mexican-aster, Mexican Aster, Annual cosmos, Common Cosmos, Cosmea
Af: Kosmos
Ar: قسموس ثنائي الريش
Hy: Զարդենի կրկնափետրաձև
Be: Космас раздзельналісты
Bn: কসমস
Bg: Градински космос
Zh: Da bosi ju, Qiu ying, 大波斯菊
Cs: Krásenka zpeřená, Kráenka zpeřená
Da: Stolt kavaler
Nl: Cosmos
Et: Harilik kosmos, Paprastoji kosmėja
Fi: Punakosmos
Fr: Cosmos, Cosmos bipinné, Cosmos bipenné
De: Fiederblättriges Schmuckkörbchen, Schmuckkörbchen, Kosmee, Cosmee, Kosmos, Fiederblättrige Schmuckblume, Cosmea
Hu: Kerti pillangóvirág
It: Cosmea
Kn: ಕಾಸ್ಮಾಸ್
Ko: 코스모스
Lt: Paprastoji kosmėja
Pl: Kosmos podwójnie pierzasty
Pt: Beijo-de-moça, Cosmos-de-jardim, Cósmea, Estrela-do-monte, Picão-rosa
Ru: Космея дваждыперистая
Sk: Krasuľka perovitá
Es: Girasol morado, Mirasol, Cosmos
Sv: Rosenskära
Zh-tw: 大波斯菊
Vi: Cúc vạn thọ tây
Cy: Cosmos Mecsico

Synonyms

• Bidens bipinnata (Baill.)
• Cosmea tenuifolia ((Lindl.) J.W.Loudon)
• Cosmos spectabilis (Carrière)
• Coreopsis formosa (Bonato)
• Georgina bipinnata ((Cav.) Spreng.)
• Bidens formosa (Sch.Bip.)
• Bidens lindleyi (Sch.Bip.)
• Cosmos bipinnatus var. albiflorus (Sprenger)
• Cosmos bipinnatus var. typicus (Sherff)
• Cosmea bipinnata ((Cav.) Willd.)
• Cosmos hybridus (Anon.)
• Cosmos tenuifolius (Lindl.)
• Cosmos bipinnatus var. exaristatus (DC.)
• Dahlia zimapani (Roezl ex Ortgies)
• Bidens reptans (Sch.Bip.)

Distribution

• Mexico Central (native)
• Mexico Gulf (native)
• Mexico Northeast (native)
• Mexico Northwest (native)
• Mexico Southwest (native)
• Afghanistan (introduced)
• Alabama (introduced)
• Andaman Is. (introduced)
• Angola (introduced)
• Arizona (introduced)
• Arkansas (introduced)
• Assam (introduced)
• Austria (introduced)
• Baltic States (introduced)
• Bangladesh (introduced)
• Belarus (introduced)
• Belgium (introduced)
• Benin (introduced)
• Bolivia (introduced)
• Brazil South (introduced)
• Brazil Southeast (introduced)
• Brazil West-Central (introduced)
• Bulgaria (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Cameroon (introduced)
• Canary Is. (introduced)
• Cape Provinces (introduced)
• Caroline Is. (introduced)
• Colombia (introduced)
• Colorado (introduced)
• Connecticut (introduced)
• Costa Rica (introduced)
• Cuba (introduced)
• Czechoslovakia (introduced)
• Delaware (introduced)
• Dominican Republic (introduced)
• East European Russia (introduced)
• East Himalaya (introduced)
• El Salvador (introduced)
• Eritrea (introduced)
• Ethiopia (introduced)
• Florida (introduced)
• France (introduced)
• Free State (introduced)
• Georgia (introduced)
• Germany (introduced)
• Great Britain (introduced)
• Guatemala (introduced)
• Guyana (introduced)
• Honduras (introduced)
• Hungary (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• India (introduced)
• Iraq (introduced)
• Ireland (introduced)
• Italy (introduced)
• Jawa (introduced)
• Kansas (introduced)
• Kazakhstan (introduced)
• Kentucky (introduced)
• Korea (introduced)
• Krym (introduced)
• KwaZulu-Natal (introduced)
• Lesotho (introduced)
• Louisiana (introduced)
• Madeira (introduced)
• Maine (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)
• Mauritius (introduced)
• Mexico Southeast (introduced)
• Michigan (introduced)
• Minnesota (introduced)
• Missouri (introduced)
• Mozambique (introduced)
• Myanmar (introduced)
• Nepal (introduced)
• New Hampshire (introduced)
• New Jersey (introduced)
• New Mexico (introduced)
• New South Wales (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• Nicobar Is. (introduced)
• North Carolina (introduced)
• North Caucasus (introduced)
• Northern Provinces (introduced)
• Norway (introduced)
• Ohio (introduced)
• Oklahoma (introduced)
• Ontario (introduced)
• Pakistan (introduced)
• Pennsylvania (introduced)
• Peru (introduced)
• Poland (introduced)
• Primorye (introduced)
• Queensland (introduced)
• Québec (introduced)
• Rhode I. (introduced)
• Romania (introduced)
• Réunion (introduced)
• South Carolina (introduced)
• South European Russi (introduced)
• Spain (introduced)
• Tadzhikistan (introduced)
• Taiwan (introduced)
• Tennessee (introduced)
• Texas (introduced)
• Trinidad-Tobago (introduced)
• Turkmenistan (introduced)
• Ukraine (introduced)
• Utah (introduced)
• Uzbekistan (introduced)
• Venezuela (introduced)
• Vietnam (introduced)
• Virginia (introduced)
• West Virginia (introduced)
• Wisconsin (introduced)
• Wyoming (introduced)
• Yugoslavia (introduced)
• Zambia (introduced)
• Zaïre (introduced)
• Zimbabwe (introduced)

Additional Images

Other

Taken Jul 14, 2019 by Erik (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 20, 2021 by Giode Tonpino (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 1, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Yvonne van der Valk (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 28, 2022 by Jim Knopf (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 15, 2021 by Tickles Sleeping Dragons (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Nov 12, 2017 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 4, 2017 by juillard (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 24, 2019 by Corbelli Lucio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 9, 2019 by Jorge Scandaliaris (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 21, 2019 by Maryam Rezaei (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Jan 8, 2021 by Monteiro Henrique (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 15, 2021 by Tickles Sleeping Dragons (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 31, 2022 by Nathalie Potel (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 3, 2021 by Pour Demos (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 19, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Nov 8, 2022 by Else Nolden (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 31, 2022 by Nathalie Potel (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 26, 2019 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 26, 2019 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 19, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Oct 1, 2022 by Hans Christian Rufener (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 15, 2022 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 31, 2022 by Karsten Hoffmeyer (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 3, 2020 by Palo Rapos (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 4, 2022 by Tristan Jaton-Maria (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Aug 19, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Arthur Freis (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 23, 2018 by Lopez (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 7, 2021 by Wouter de Croon (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 8, 2021 by Monteiro Henrique (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 3, 2021 by Pour Demos (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:198320-1)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3098912)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Cosmos bipinnatus Cav.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Forb/herb

Growth

Ph maximum: 7.5

Ph minimum: 7.0

Light: 7

Atmospheric humidity: 4

Soil nutriments: 8