Cosmos Flowers

8:13:58 AM EDT

    The plants to grow if you are a beginner

A lack of confidence and gardening knowledge means that a third of us don't make the most of our garden, according to a new survey.

Nearly half of people buy plants based purely on colour, scent and shape, while one in four aren't seeking advice at garden centres and nurseries, the PlantforLife survey found.

With this in mind, the Horticultural Trades Association is launching a new Plant Advice Guide to help budding gardeners find out what they need to know to create the garden they want.

Topics covered in an easy-to-use format include testing your soil type, as well as descriptions, pictures and suitable growing details for a range of popular plants. Here are a few growing details of some of the plants that beginners may want to incorporate: l Californian lilac (ceanothus): Flower colour: blue, pink and white; free draining soil (not suitable for chalky soil); likes full sun, grows up to 3m. Plant in March/April and October/ November. Flowering time is April-June.

l Cosmos: Tough and resilient, flowering late into the season. Flower colour: pink, white, chocolate brown. Likes fertile, light, very well-drained soils when planted in the garden. Avoid clay. Plant in full sun. Grows to 30cm. Plant in April to June for flowering June/July to November.

l Dahlia: The national flower of Mexico revels in sunny weather. Flower colour: pastels to bright primary colours. Likes fertile, light, very well drained soils when planted in the garden and universal compost when in a pot. Put it in a sunny, open spot. Height varies from 30cm upwards, as does the spread. Plant it in April-June.l Juniper: Its evergreen, woolly appearance provides an excellent foil for surrounding flowering plants. Flower colour: yellow/green. Toleratesa wide range of soil conditions. Prefers a sunny position, doesn't really like shade. Varies in height from 75cm to 25m. Plant in March/April and October/November.

l Juniper: Its evergreen, woolly appearance provides an excellent foil for surrounding flowering plants. Flower colour: yellow/green. Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions. Prefers a sunny position, doesn't really like shade. Varies in height from 75cm to 25m. Plant in March/April and October/November.

l Lavender: Perfect for dry conditions and attractive to bees. Flower colour: various shades of blue, pink and white. Will tolerate dry, poor soils but must be free-draining. Put it in a sunny, warm, south-facing spot. Height and spread 30-50cm. Plant in October-March for flowering May-July.

11:21am Monday 14th May 2007

Cosmos are great for beginners

Juniper, another easy plant to grow

Lavender, a must for all gardens and easy to grow

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8:48:53 AM EDT

Description: Cosmos forms a lacy, open plant with flowers three to four inches in diameter. These daisy-look-alikes come in pink, red, white, and lavender with a contrasting yellow center.

How to grow: Cosmos grows best in full sun, but it will bloom acceptably in partial shade. Space at least 12 inches apart.

Propagation: Because it grows so fast, sow cosmos outdoors after danger of frost has passed or three weeks earlier, indoors. Barely cover seeds; they need light to germinate. Germination takes three to seven days at 70 degrees to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Uses: Because of its height, cosmos should be planted at the back of borders and grouped against fences or other places as a covering.

Related species: Cosmos sulphureus is the source of the hot red and yellow colors of cosmos. Blooms come quickly after planting seed and continue until frost.

Related varieties: Sensation series is four feet tall and comes in mixed colors. Purity is similar in pure white. Gazebo is a two-foot mix.

Scientific name: Cosmos bipinnatus

Gardening Tip: Cosmos thrive beyond belief on Miracle Grow Bloom Booster.                                   

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9:25:09 AM EDT

    Double Cosmos  

Here is a delight I discovered, a variety of double flowering cosmos.

* These are available through Thomson-Morgan Seeds

http://seeds.thompson-morgan.com/us/en/product/gww4288/1

and through Burpee Seeds

       

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12:55:14 PM EDT

    Genus Cosmos 

Genus Cosmos has about 20 species of annual and perennial plants in the Asteraceae family, the family of sunflowers, Daisies and Asters. Cosmos genus includes, Cosmos bipinnatus, commonly known as Mexican Aster and Cosmos sulphureus, Yellow Cosmos , and Cosmos

atrosanguineus Chocolate Cosmos. 

Kingdom

         Plantae

Division

Magnoliophyta

Class

Magnoliopsida

Order

Asterales

Family

Asteraceae

Tribe

Heliantheae

Genus

Cosmos

Cosmos flowerse are produced in a capitulum.  Cosmos flower capitulum is surrounded by a ring of broad ray florets and a center of disc florets. There is a lot of color variation in between the species. Cosmos flowers are 2-4 inches in diameter. Cosmos flowers come in brightly colored single or double flowers which include white, pink, orange, yellow,

and scarlet colors.     

Facts About Cosmos Flowers

Cosmos area herbaceous perennial flowering plants.

Cosmos flower plants grow to 3-6 feet tall.

The leaves of Cosmos plant are simple, pinnate, or bipinnate, and are arranged in opposite pairs.

The word Cosmos is derived from the Greek, which means a balanced universe.

Cosmos flower blooms twice a year and only once in the season.

Cosmos flowers blooms heavily, but dies with first frost.

Cosmos flowers can regrow in the following spring if seed falls on bare ground.

Cosmos flowers occurs in Solid pink, white, maroon, and pink with deep pink flares.

Cosmos flowering plants can be grown quickly and successfully in all regions.

Cosmos seeds are miniature pine needles.

Cosmos seeds are one of the easiest seeds in the world to grow.

Chocolate cosmos or Cosmos atrosanguinea, fills the air with its sweet scent of vanilla tinged chocolate.

Lace cosmos have more rows of petals, and have ferny foliage of a very delicate texture. Cosmos sulphureus plant leaves resemble those of marigolds (member of the Compositae, to which Cosmos belongs).

    Growing Cosmos flowers

• Sow the cosmos seeds directly just before the last frost.
• Give 12 inches of space between the plants.
• Spread the cosmos seeds over freshly turned bare soil.
• Press the seed into the dirt, and do not cover the seed.
• Cosmos seeds germinate quickly.
• Cosmos plants normally grow to 4-5 feet in a season.
• Most of the Cosmos varieties are annuals, but there are perennial varieties also.
• Perennial varieties of cosmos are Rhizomes and can be propagated by division.

Caring Cosmos flowers  

• Spent flowers should be deadheaded regularly, as it keeps cosmos in bloom for many weeks.
• Overfertilizing and overwatering reduces the flower production.
• Cosmos flower plants are drought tolerant but water Cosmos plants during long dry spells.
• After the plants die after the first frost, remove them, and keep as compost, which helps as mulch for the next year plants.

The Flower Expert               

Tags: , genus cosmos, Cosmos, yellow cosmos, chocolate cosmos

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3:40:18 PM EDT Yellow Cosmos Flowers

Cosmos sulphureus (Yellow Cosmos) - the species native to the Americas - is my favorite and the one I recommend you try if you have never grown cosmos.. Plants of yellow cosmos can range in height from 4 to 7 feet but the cultivated varieties such as 'Crest Red', 'Ladybird Dwarf Red', 'Ladybird Dwarf Gold', 'Ladybird Dwarf Orange', 'Ladybird Dwarf Lemon', and Yellow Cosmos - Klondyke Mix are not as tall. The flower heads are composed of disc and ray flowers. The disc, or center flowers are yellow: the ray, or outer petals range from pale yellow or mustard to orange-scarlet. Red is a relatively recent addition to the color range of C. sulphureus. The native species is golden-yellow to orange.

Is C. sulphureus cosmos easy to grow? You bet they are! Here is the cultural information provided by John Thomas of Wildseed Farms who rates C. sulphureus cosmos with an 80 percent planting success: YELLOW COSMOS INFORMATION FROM WILDSEED FARMS

Rich, fertile soils tend to produce unusually tall, lanky plants. Yellow cosmos requires full sun. Sow seed of C. sulphureus in early spring since seedlings are not winter hardy. The average planting success with this species is 80 percent. The plant height is 2 - 4 feet depending on culture and variety selected. Plants will germinate in 7 - 21 days when the soil temperature is optimum for germination at 70 - 80 degrees F. Plant seed 1/16 inch deep by raking into the soil. C. sulphureus plants bloom from May - November. Plants should be sheared every 30 days or whenever seed pods predominate. Large areas can be seeded at a rate of 15 pounds per acre C. sulphureus plants bloom approximately 50 - 55 days after germination. Yellow cosmos needs to be replanted each spring for continued success.

Yellow cosmos is easy to start from seed. Rich, fertile conditions are not necessary to grow yellow cosmos, but adequate drainage is. The seeds may be sown outdoors after all danger of frost is past and the soil has warmed to at least 65 degrees F. Scatter the seeds right where the yellow cosmos are to be displayed. Firm or rake seeds into a loose soil -- if the seed is planted too deep, germination can be affected. Keep the soil moist for 5 - 10 days after seeding. Seeds will germinate in 7 - 21 days. If the early spring has been cold, soil temperatures will remain cool also. If the soil temperature is below 65 F., seeds may not germinate as rapidly. Thinning is really not necessary.

Yellow cosmos is a sun - loving annual; it will not produce as many blooms if grown in the shade. Choose a location that receives at least 8 - 10 hours of direct, sunbathing sunlight. Cosmos will perform best if grown in well-drained soil. Yellow cosmos is not a heavy feeder. Excess fertilization will cause plants to produce excessive leaf growth at the expense of flower production.

Yellow cosmos needs only basic care to provide a colorful abundance of blooms all summer long. After the seedlings emerge, water VERY SPARINGLY. In lieu of any rainfall during an entire month, give the planting bed a long, slow drink. Cosmos is drought tolerant, providing abundant blooms with less water than most other annuals. Herein lies the "problem" which many people encounter when growing cosmos -- they "over-care" for their cosmos plants. "Over-care" means too much water, too much fertility and too much shade. When "over-care" occurs, cosmos becomes tall and spindly (even when the new, lower-growing varieties are used), and blooms sparsely. John Thomas says that the best growers of cosmos practice "tough-love" plant culture. "Tough-love" watering means only watering when the cosmos foliage begins to wilt. "Tough-love" fertility means very little if any soil fertility. "Tough-love" location means no shade and in direct, all-day blazing sunlight. Cosmos grows best in the worst conditions Texas has to offer -- hot and dry. This is why cosmos is the best possible annual for Texas. When not exposed to "tough-love" growing conditions, this otherwise beautiful flowering plant becomes tall, spindly and sparsely floriferious. Cosmos sulphureus (Yellow Cosmos) is not as sensitive as Cosmos bipinnatus to pampering and "over-care". However, if you can discipline yourself to do some "tough-love" growing of Cosmos bipinnatus, you can produce the lovely pastels which the ladies really like. Gardeners also have the added advantage of the naturally smaller growing Cosmos bipinnatus varieties such as 'Gloria' pink, 'Tetra Versailles' red, 'Candy Stripe' white with red veins, 'Day Dream' white with red halo around yellow stamens, 'Picotee' white petals with red margins, 'Sea Shells', 'Dwarf Sensation Mix' and 'Psycho White'.

From: Plant Answers.Com                  

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8:59:40 AM EST

                                               

Cosmos: dependable beauty - flower gardening

THE TRANSLUCENT FLOWERS OF the cosmos, a favorite garden annual for generations, have been a relatively recent discovery for me. I first noticed the rose-hued flowers of Cosmos bipinnatus in rambling country gardens in the mountains of northeastern Georgia. I was captivated by the flowers' airborne effect; they seemed to float on their tall, gently waving stalks. At dusk the whiteflowered varieties appeared as stars suspended above the feathery foliage and slender stems, which became almost invisible at twilight.

Cosmos is often described as an easy flower for beginners, as almost nothing can go wrong. Worthy types range from the rose, pink and white of C. bipinnatus to the fiery oranges and golds of C. sulphureus, both annuals, and even to the little-known, chocolate-scented black cosmos (C. atrosanguineus), a perennial in Zones 7 through 10. The cosmos is a member of the daisy or composite family, a fact not surprising given the classic daisy form of its flowers.

C. bipinnatus is a tall, sprawling plant, towering from 4 to 6 feet or more. I have grown some problem specimens that billowed taller than 6 feet and were felled by the slightest wind. With a little foresight, however, this problem can be solved by supporting taller varieties with stakes, or more sensibly, by pinching the plants back early in their development to encourage compactness.

In its most common form, C. bipinnatus has single flowers of rose, pinkish lavender, rich maroon or white. Hybridizers stay busy, however, creating new varieties. 'Seashells' is particularly intriguing, with its tubular petals, each flaring into a trumpet shape at the tip. The petals of 'Candy Stripe' are vivid white outlined with crimson, giving the look of a Christmas candy cane. 'Daydream' produces a misty, almost ethereal effect with its frosty pale-pink petals deepening to rose at the center.

As an added bonus, the three previously mentioned varieties average from 30 to 36 inches in height, making them a good choice for smaller gardens. Gardeners with a very small planting area would do well to try the dwarf cosmos 'Sonata White.' Plants of this variety grow only 2 feet in height, bearing snowy white flowers with golden yellow centers.

Evocative of the tropical climate from which it came, Cosmos sulphureus lights up gardens with a bold, bright color scheme that ranges from golden yellow to blazing orange-red. This type of cosmos tends to be sturdier than C. bipinnatus; taller varieties, however, may require support. The smallest hybrids, usually about a foot high, resemble marigolds in the garden. Two of these, 'Ladybird' and 'Sunny Gold,' are tolerant of dry weather and heat, and produce plenty of semidouble blooms until frost.

The cosmos's dependability is certainly refreshing. Its large, easy-to-handle seeds may be sown directly in the garden and can almost always be counted on for success, a trait that is true of too few plants. Space the seeds at least an inch apart, as growth is usually quite rapid. Because it needs warm soil to germinate, cosmos should not be sown until well after the last frost of spring. Choose a site with lots of sun and sharply drained soil of average to low fertility. Fertilizers will encourage rich green foliage instead of flowers.

Plant taller varieties of cosmos well to the back of mixed borders. They are effective against walls or railings or planted as a screen. When mixing cosmos with other flowers, it helps to remember that many varieties do not reach their peak until late in the season. Drifts of cosmos mist the background of my garden in early fall, putting out their flowers alongside dahlias and chrysanthemums. Despite its fragile appearance, the cosmos makes an excellent cut flower.

Another characteristic of cosmos -- one that some gardeners may consider a drawback -- is its ability for rampant self-seeding. I discover seedlings in the most unexpected places, from cracks in the patio to the large compost pile in the woods. Each blossom produces a cluster of about 30 or 40 seeds that are particularly appealing to goldfinches; I often see these lovely little birds feeding on faded cosmos plants in November.

Other winged creatures are drawn to cosmos as well, including butterflies and hummingbirds, which drink nectar from their favorite crimson and maroon varieties. With the departure of the hummingbirds for warmer regions and the first frost, the cosmos season comes to an abrupt end. Discovering this carefree flower has proved a delight for me, and I look forward to its unassuming beauty every summer.

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10:26:27 PM EST

   Cosmos bipinnatus 'Candy Stripe'

Bunches of daisy-like flowers and graceful feathery foliage make them a delight in both color and texture. Attactive to birds and butterflies, they are available in two species. Cosmos bipinnatus come in pink, rose, red, white, lavender and bicolors, and Cosmos sulfureus in yellow, orange and scarlet orange. Some varieties of this fast-grower have semi-double flowers, rolled quilled petals or bicolor striped colors. Use 3- to 6-foot tall plants as background, or in wild or naturalistic gardens. Dwarf forms, 1 to 2 feet tall, are good for containers. Excellent cut flowers. Considered drought resistant, Cosmos grows best in full sun, but will grow well and flower earlier in poor, fairly dry soils. Easy to grow from seed, they seed themselves. Do not over-fertilize, unless you want lush plants with few flowers. Tall varieties require stalking. Nearly pest-free, but watch for borers or fungal diseases.

Attributes - Cosmos bipinnatus 'Candy Stripe'

Plant Type: Annual

Bloom Season: Early Summer through Mid Fall

Flower Color: Pink, White

Height: 3 ft. to 4 ft.

Width: 2 ft.

Sunlight: Full Sun

Here is a must visit website SunnyGardens.com

It not only is super packed with information on all types of plants, shrubs and trees, but also has a discussion forum.  Wonderful site!

Notes: Cut Flowers, Long Blooming, Showy Flowers. Susceptible to Aphids, Beetles, Powdery Mildew, Root Rot, Spider Mites.

                         

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8:24:07 AM EST

    How to Grow Chocolate Cosmos  

Chocolate cosmos (Cosmos atrosanguinea) is both nose and eye candy for your garden. When it’s in full bloom, mature blossoms on long, slender stems look like candy kisses on a stick and fill the late afternoon with the sweet scent of vanilla tinged chocolate. New blossoms hug the foliage of the plant, nearly concealing it with their numbers! Add to that the sweet chocolate fragrance and you end up with something very special.

Although chocolate cosmos is endangered in the wild, transplants are easily found at most nurseries and garden centers in the spring. However, gardeners who are inexperienced in how to grow chocolate cosmos may overlook what seem to be small, messy tangles of miniature dahlia leaves, unaware that once established, prolific blossoms nearly conceal the foliage. Once in bloom, chocolate cosmos blossoms continuously throughout the summer into the first frosts of autumn.

If you’re planning a gothic garden, chocolate cosmos is the plant for you. Sometimes referred to as black cosmos, dark maroon blossoms are so deep in color that they appear brown/black in late afternoon and evening.

A native of Mexico, the chocolate cosmos is a half-hardy perennial and a sun loving plant that is moderately drought tolerant.

You’ll most easily grow chocolate cosmos from transplants purchased at your local garden center or nursery. Large clumps of established plants can also be divided to provide as many as three or four transplants.

Plant chocolate cosmos in organically rich, well-drained soil in a location that gets full sun. Keep the transplants moist until they established roots and you see the beginnings of some new growth.

In the fall, when foliage dies back, cut plants back to about two inches from the root and over-winter them in a frost-free area. Chocolate cosmos is hardy in zones 7-10. In these zones, you may opt to cover the plants with a cloche to protect them from danger of frost.

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8:16:38 AM EST

               Cosmos Pictures       

                

Pink/Maroon  Light Purple   Light Pink     White           DarkRed

               

 White Pink     White Purple    Orange          Pink                 Purple

               

Purple White    Yellow            White             Dark Purple   Pink Maroon

                    

Dark Red      Chocolate    Candy Striped      

Tags: Cosmos Pictures

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8:00:38 AM EST

  Garden Tools for Cosmos 

You will also need a small selection of garden tools for your flower bed.  This is one area that I don't believe in buying these cheap, flimsy tools.  You save more money in the long run by purchasing tools that are sturdy and of superior quality.

Your tools should include the usual large ones, plus a set of the smaller hand varieties.  I find both come in quite handy and each has a particular use at a particular time.

                                              

Garden Tools ~ quality gardening tools are a good investment

Now you can have the benefits of working with garden tools designed for professionals. Heavy duty, high-grade materials used in gardening tools for landscapers, arborists and professional gardeners mean your tools will last longer and perform better.

Good quality garden tools are a wise investment for all gardeners from novices to master gardeners. With proper care and maintenance your garden tools will last a long time, if not a lifetime. Start with the basic gardening tools and build your collection as you gain experience and as your garden grows.

Basic garden tool set:

• spading fork
• round-end shovel
• rake
• garden shears or pruners
• hoe

Gardening Trends

              

Before digging into the garden make sure you have the right tools

Digging around in your garden is not exactly brain surgery, but like surgeons, every gardener should have the right tool for the right job.

Some may say that a shovel is just a shovel, but an expert in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences points out that real gardeners need a spade -- and about four other essential gardening implements.

"These days there are catalogs and stores with very specialized equipment, but many gardeners really just need some basic tools," says J. Robert Nuss, professor of ornamental horticulture. "Once you have a solid set of tools, then you can branch out into specialty equipment."

Nuss recommends five basic tools:

A long-handled spade. This tool is designed for digging. The blade is straight and set at an angle so it cuts easily into the soil. "A spade is not a shovel," Nuss explains. "A shovel is designed like a scoop and is used to move material from one place to another."

A spading fork. This tool has flat, square tines and is used for moving heavy soil. "Spading forks are invaluable for preparing soil in the spring and harvesting some types of vegetables in the fall," Nuss says. "Don't confuse it with a pitchfork, which has rounded, slender tines and is used to move straw or compost." - see other side

A steel rake.These large rakes are used to break up clay, to smooth out soil and to rake in fertilizers. "If the garden is large, get a wide, heavy rake," Nuss says. "It wouldn't hurt to have a wide leaf rake for lawn work."

A hoe. Hoes are used to form rows, cover seeds, move soil, cut out weeds and make holes for planting seedlings. "Hoes come in all types and sizes, but most gardeners don't need heavy ones," Nuss says. "The most versatile hoes are dual-purpose models, with a triangular cutting head on one side and a cultivating tool with three tines on the other side."

A hand trowel. Any hand tool that makes gardening more efficient is an invaluable addition to the homeowner's arsenal of tools. "Hand tools are best for marking rows, weeding, making furrows and moving small plants," Nuss says.

Nuss says when it comes to gardening, choosing a big tool isn't necessarily better. "Heavy tools are fine for big people, but if you are short on size or energy, pick smaller tools," he explains. "The same logic applies to picking the best handle length. Tools are extensions of the body and should be used for extra leverage or reach when pulling or cutting."

Nuss advises using heavy-handled tools for moving soil and heavy material. For weeding and cultivation jobs, he recommends using a tool with a lightweight handle.

Old House Web

** I also highly recommend a good pair of garden gloves as well **

                                      

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