Cosmos Flowers

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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