Cosmos
Cosmos: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
Cosmos belongs to the genus Cosmos in the daisy family, Asteraceae. The most familiar garden cosmos, Cosmos bipinnatus, is a Mexican annual known for airy foliage and flowers resembling large daisies. The common name nevertheless covers several species. Sulphur cosmos, Cosmos sulphureus, and chocolate cosmos, Cosmos atrosanguineus, have different colours and characteristics. This diversity gives the genus several distinct appearances in flower gardens, with botanical identity explaining more than a shared name.In garden cosmos, leaves are very finely divided into narrow segments, creating an almost feathery impression. Upright, branched stems carry the flowers above this airy foliage. Compact selections stay low, while others develop considerable height. Long stems and fine leaves give the plant a relaxed visual character even when the flowers are large. Sulphur cosmos also has divided foliage, but its segments are generally broader. Leaf texture therefore helps distinguish these familiar annual species.Each apparent flower is a flower…
