(Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Candy Stripe’)
Candy Stripe Cosmos is an annual warm-weather flower is that is native to Mexico, but can commonly be found growing throughout the southern and northeastern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 3-6' and features finely divided, feathery green foliage and 2-3” flowers with yellow centers and wide, scallop-edged white petals edged with dark pink. This plant attracts bees, birds, butterflies, ladybugs, pollinating moths, and predatory wasps, tolerates drought, self sows, and is great as a cut flower!
Genus: Cosmos
Species: bipinnatus
Variety: Candy Stripe
Also Known As: Mexican Aster, Garden Cosmos
Native to: Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southwest
Introduced into: Afghanistan, Alabama, Andaman Is., Arizona, Arkansas, Assam, Austria, Baltic States, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, Brazil West-Central, Bulgaria, California, Cameroon, Canary Is., Cape Provinces, Caroline Is., Colombia, Colorado, Connecticut, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Delaware, Dominican Republic, East Himalaya, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Florida, France, Free State, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Illinois, India, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jawa, Kansas, Kazakhstan, Kentucky, Korea, Krym, KwaZulu-Natal, Lesotho, Louisiana, Madeira, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mauritius, Mexico Southeast, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New South Wales, New York, Nicobar Is., North Carolina, North Caucasus, Northern Provinces, Norway, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Pakistan, Pennsylvania, Peru, Poland, Queensland, Québec, Rhode I., Romania, Réunion, South Carolina, South European Russi, Spain, Tadzhikistan, Taiwan, Tennessee, Texas, Trinidad-Tobago, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Utah, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Grown as: Annual
Maturity: 75 Days
Hardiness: Tender. It is really important to plant out well after your last frost date.
Suitability: Drought tolerant, Tolerates poor soil.
Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Attracts Beneficial Insects?: Yes. Bees, Birds, and Butterflies.
Pollinators: Bee's, Butterflies, and Moths.
Water: Low. Excessively drained. Well drained, soil remains moist for a short period after precipitation.
Height: 36-60"
Spacing: 15-18"
Sow Depth: On surface
Produces: finely divided, feathery green foliage and 2-3” flowers with yellow centers and wide, scallop-edged white petals edged with dark pink.
Uses: Cut flowers and suitable as annual.
USDA Grow Zone: 3a-9b
Soil pH: 6.6-7.8, Cosmos prefer to be in weakly acidic soil - weakly alkaline soil.
Because some of these plants can grow really tall, staking may be necessary.
Water regularly, but make sure you don't over-water the plants. Over-watering and over-fertilization can lead to plants with fewer flowers.
Cosmos beds may become weedy due to the fact that they self-seed, so remember to check them.
Seed Viability in Years: 3-4 years
Germination Percentage: 70%
Tomatoes: Cosmos and tomatoes get along like old friends. Cosmos attract bees and other friendly pollinators, which often pay a visit to tomatoes while they’re in the neighborhood. As a result, tomato fruit set is increased. For the same reason, cosmos is a beneficial neighbor to squash and many other blooming vegetables.
Beets: Beets actually do fine without cosmos, so what’s the reasoning behind this combination? It’s mainly aesthetic, as the dark red beet leaves are striking against the colorful blooms and lacy foliage of the cosmos plant.
Cosmos flower companion plants:
Cannas: This tall, sturdy, stately plant bears unique blooms in colors ranging from yellow to pink and red, all on tall, stiff stalks. Dwarf varieties of canna are also available.
Marigolds (Tagetes): Marigolds are familiar, hardworking annuals valued for their orange, yellow or rusty red blooms borne on single, sturdy stems.
Crocosmia: Also known as Monbretia, crocosmia is an interesting plant with bright orange or red funnel-shaped blooms rising above clumps of sword-shaped leaves.
Helenium: Also known as sneezeweed or Helen’s flower, this is a reliable plant that blooms profusely from midsummer to autumn. Helenium comes in shades of rich gold, burnt orange, yellow, mahogany, burgundy and rust.
Dianthus: Also known as Indian pink or China pink, dianthus are neat, shrubby plants blooming in shades of white, pink and red with pink edges.
Poppy: Poppies, a group of colorful plants that include annuals, tender perennials and biennials, are beloved for their cup-shaped blooms in intense shades of every color except blue.
Verbena: The rugged verbena plant produces dark green foliage and clusters of small, flat blooms in a variety of bright colors.
Cleome: Also known as spider flower, cleome is a fast-growing annual with masses of spiky blooms from early summer until the first frost. Cleome is available in shades of white and pink, as well as a unique shade of purple.
Plant Cosmos throughout the garden. Bad insects won't come near it, but it will attract pollinating wasps, green metallic, sweat, and longhorned bees, lacewings, hoverflies, mini-wasps, and pirate, damsel, and big-eyed bugs.
These beneficial insects feed on many different garden pests including: aphids, mealybugs, thrips, small caterpillars, mites, moth eggs, some scales, armyworms, codling moths, European corn borer, flies, gypsy moths, cabbageworms, leaf hopper nymph, insect eggs, tarnished plant bugs, and treehoppers.
Suggested Varieties
(Beta vulgaris 'Cylindra')
Cylindra Beet is a heirloom, semi-hardy cool weather annual/biennial vegetable native to Denmark believed to be developed in 1888. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 6-12” and features a 6-7" long, dark red, carrot-shaped beets with red-veined tops. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts earwigs, is horse and rabbit safe, tolerates light frost, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Beta vulgaris 'Detroit Dark Red')
Detroit Dark Red Beet is a heirloom, semi-hardy cool weather annual/biennial vegetable that is native to Canada, where it was developed by a Mr. Reeves in Ontario and introduced by D.M. Ferry & Company in 1892. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 12-18” and features a 3" uniformly dark red, round beets with red stemmed, dark green tops. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts earwigs, is horse and rabbit safe, tolerates light frost, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Beta vulgaris 'Golden Detroit')
Golden Detroit Beet is a heirloom, semi-hardy cool weather annual/biennial vegetable that is native to Europe and western Asia, but can be commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 9-12” and features a 1-3” oval shaped orange-yellow roots with Light green tops. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts earwigs, is horse and rabbit safe, tolerates light frost, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Cucurbita pepo 'Dark Green')
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Dark Green Zucchini is a heirloom, tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to Mexico but can be found growing throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 12-18” and features 4-7" small, uniform, high-quality fruit that has dark green with light fleck skin. This plant attracts bees, butterflies, pollinating moths, and predatory wasps, is rabbit safe, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Cucurbita pepo 'Black Beauty ')
Black Beauty Zucchini is a heirloom, tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to Storrs, Connecticut where it was bred at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station by John Scarchuk in the 1920's. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 12-18” and features 6-8" shiny black-green zucchini with creamy, white flesh. This plant attracts bees, butterflies, pollinating moths, and predatory wasps, is rabbit safe, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Cucurbita pepo 'Early White Bush Scallop')
Early White Scallop Bush Summer Squash is a heirloom, tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to Mexico but can be found growing throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 24-48” and features creamy white, 7” across and 3” deep scalloped squashes. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, pollinating moths, and predatory wasps, is rabbit safe, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Cucurbita pepo 'Early Yellow Crookneck')
Early Yellow Crookneck Summer Squash is a heirloom, tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to Mexico but can be found growing throughout in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 18-24” and features 5-6" light yellow, crookneck squashes with slightly warted skin. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, pollinating moths, and predatory wasps, is rabbit safe, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Cucurbita pepo 'Grey Zucchini')
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Grey Zucchini is a heirloom, tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to Mexico but can be found growing throughout in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 18-24” and features 7-9" zucchini with mottled grayish green skin. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, pollinating moths, and predatory wasps, is rabbit safe, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Cucurbita pepo 'Scallop Yellow Bush')
Yellow Bush Scallop Summer Squash is a heirloom, tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to Mexico but can be found growing throughout in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 18-24” and features 2-3" bright yellow, rounded patty pan squashes with scalloped edges. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, pollinating moths, and predatory wasps, is rabbit safe, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Cucurbita maxima 'Sweet Meat')
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Sweet Meat Winter Squash is a heirloom, tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to the United States and was first offered in Portland, Oregon by the Gill Brothers Seed company in 1947. At maturity, the vines of this plant reach the length of 6-10' and features rounded, pale bluish gray squashes that average 10-20 lbs. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, pollinating moths, and predatory wasps, is rabbit safe, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Cucurbita maxima 'Vegetable Spaghetti')
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Vegetable Spaghetti Winter Squash is a heirloom, tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to China, but was introduced into the United States by Burpee Seed Company in 1936. At maturity, the vines of this plant reach the length of 8' and features 9-12” oval, cream colored squashes that average 5-7 lbs. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, pollinating moths, and predatory wasps, is rabbit safe, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Cucurbita maxima 'Waltham Butternut')
Waltham Butternut Winter Squash is a heirloom, tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to Massachusetts where it was bred by Bob Young in Waltham, Massachusetts. At maturity, the vines of this plant reach the length of 6-9' and features 8-12” long. pale tan squashes that have yellowish-orange flesh and average 3-6 lbs. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, pollinating moths, and predatory wasps, is horse and rabbit safe, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Solanum lycopersicum 'Amana Orange')
Amana Orange Tomato is a heirloom, tender, warm weather perennial vegetable that is native to Iowa, where it was named by Gary Staley after the Amana Colonies of Amana, Iowa. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 60-84” and features globe shaped, reddish orange beefsteak indeterminate tomatoes that average 1-2 lbs. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts earwigs, is rabbit safe, tolerates drought, is used to make cosmetics, insecticides, and soap, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Solanum lycopersicum 'Beefsteak')
Beefsteak Tomato is a heirloom, tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to New York, where it was bred by Peter Henderson in 1894. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 36-60” and features indeterminate, globe shaped, slightly ribbed red tomatoes that average 1-2 pounds. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts earwigs, is rabbit safe, tolerates drought, is used to make cosmetics, insecticides, and soap, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Solanum lycopersicum 'Black Krim')
Black Krim Tomato is a heirloom, tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to Russia, but can be commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 48-72” and features indeterminate, globe shaped tomatoes that vary in color from reddish brown to purplish green, and average 10-16 ounces. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts earwigs, is rabbit safe, tolerates drought, is used to make cosmetics, insecticides, and soap, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Solanum lycopersicum 'Green Zebra')
Green Zebra Tomato is a heirloom, tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to Washington, where it was bred by Tom Wagner in 1983. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 60-84” and features indeterminate, globe shaped greenish yellow tomatoes striped with green, averaging 3-5 ounces. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts earwigs, is rabbit safe, tolerates drought, is used to make cosmetics, insecticides, and soap, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Solanum lycopersicum 'Hillbilly')
Hillbilly Tomato is a heirloom, tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to West Virginia and has been around since the 1800's. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 48-72” and features indeterminate, 1-2 lbs. globe shaped, reddish orange tomatoes that have multicolored red, orange, and yellow flesh. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts earwigs, is rabbit safe, tolerates drought, is used to make cosmetics, insecticides, and soap, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Solanum lycopersicum 'Italian Roma')
Italian Roma Tomato is a heirloom, tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to United States where it was developed by the USDA in 1955. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 36-60” and features determinate, oblong red tomatoes that average 3-5 ounces. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts earwigs, is rabbit safe, tolerates drought, is used to make cosmetics, insecticides, and soap, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Solanum lycopersicum 'Purple Cherokee')
Purple Cherokee Tomato is a heirloom, tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 48-96” and features indeterminate, globe shaped reddish purple tomatoes that average 12-16 oz. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts earwigs, is rabbit safe, tolerates drought, is used to make cosmetics, insecticides, and soap, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Solanum lycopersicum 'Sweetie Cherry')
Sweetie Cherry Tomato is a heirloom, tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to the United States, where it was first introduced by the Petoseed Company in 1980. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 72-96” and features indeterminate, clusters of round red cherry tomatoes that average 1" in diameter. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts earwigs, is rabbit safe, tolerates drought, is used to make cosmetics, insecticides, and soap, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Solanum lycopersicum 'Yellow Pear')
Yellow Pear Tomato is a heirloom, tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to Europe, but was first introduced to North America by the Hudson Bay Company of Vancouver, Canada. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 60-84” and features indeterminate, pear shaped, low acid yellow tomatoes that average 1 ounce. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts earwigs, is rabbit safe, tolerates drought, is used to make cosmetics, insecticides, and soap, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Cleomella serrulata ‘Rocky Mountain’)
Rocky Mountain Bee Plant is a gorgeous native annual flower that is commonly found growing in open prairies throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant will reach the height of 3-4' and feature an erect stem, leafy branches, and beautiful clusters of large pink flowers which bare six stamens that extend far beyond the flower itself! This sun loving eye catcher also attracts bees, birds, and butterflies to your garden, is a larval host for the checkered white butterfly, is both edible and medicinal, is resistant to deer and rabbits, is great as a cut flower, and can even be used to makes dye!
(Tagetes erecta ‘Naughty Marietta’)
(Tagetes erecta ‘Sparky Mix’)
(Papaver nudicaule ‘Iceland’)
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Iceland Poppy is a short-lived cool weather perennial flower that is native to northeastern Asia and eastern Europe but is commonly grown throughout the United States as an annual. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 1-2' tall and features feather-like lobed green leaves, and aromatic four petal cup-shaped flowers that bloom in colors ranging in apricot, gold, tangerine, and white. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees and butterflies, is resistant to deer, tolerates drought, is both edible and medicinal, self sows, and is great as a cut flower!
(Papaver rhoeas ‘Red’)
Red Poppy is a cool weather annual flower that is native to Asia and Europe but can commonly be found growing in agricultural fields and along roadsides throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 9-24” and features hairy stems, 6” green feather-like lobed toothed leaves, and 2” aromatic 4-6 petal cup-shaped scarlet red flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees and butterflies, is resistant to deer, self sows, and is great as a cut flower!
(Eschscholzia californica ‘Carmine King’)
Carmine King California Poppy is a native cool weather short-lived perennial flower that can be commonly found growing in open areas, hillsides, and along roads throughout the western United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 12-15” and features bluish green fern-like leaves and 3” 4 petal cup-shaped pinkish red flowers. This plant attracts bees and butterflies, is resistant to deer, tolerates drought, is both edible and medicinal, self sows, and is great as a cut flower!
(Eschscholzia caespitosa ‘Dwarf’)
(Eschscholzia californica ‘Golden West’)
Golden West California Poppy is a native cool weather short-lived perennial flower that can be commonly found growing in costal bluffs and inland valleys throughout the western United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 12-16” and features bluish green fern-like leaves and 3” 4 petal cup-shaped golden orange flowers. This plant attracts bees and butterflies, is resistant to deer, tolerates drought, is both edible and medicinal, self sows, and is great as a cut flower!
(Eschscholzia californica ‘Ivory Castle’)
Ivory Castle California Poppy is a native cool weather short-lived perennial flower that can be commonly found growing in open areas, hillsides, and along roads throughout the western United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 12-16” and features bluish green fern-like leaves and 3” 4 petal cup-shaped white flowers that have pale yellow centers. This plant attracts bees and butterflies, is resistant to deer, tolerates drought, is both edible and medicinal, self sows, and is great as a cut flower!
(Eschscholzia californica ‘Orange’)
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Orange California Poppy is a native cool weather short-lived perennial flower that can be commonly found growing in open areas, hillsides, and along roads throughout the western United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 12-16” and features bluish green fern-like leaves and 3” 4 petal cup-shaped golden-orange flowers. This plant attracts bees and butterflies, is resistant to deer, tolerates drought, is both edible and medicinal, self sows, and is great as a cut flower!
(Eschscholzia californica ‘Purple Gleam’)
(Eschscholzia californica ‘Red Chief’)
Red Chief California Poppy is a native cool weather short-lived perennial flower that can be commonly found growing in open areas, hillsides, and along roads throughout the western United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 12-16” and features bluish green fern-like leaves and 3” 4 petal cup-shaped crimson flowers that have a yellow center. This plant attracts bees and butterflies, is resistant to deer, tolerates drought, is both edible and medicinal, self sows, and is great as a cut flower!
(Eschscholzia californica ‘White Linen’)
White Linen California Poppy is a native cool weather short-lived perennial flower that can be commonly found growing in open areas, hillsides, and along roads throughout the western United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 12-16” and features bluish green fern-like leaves and 3” 4 petal cup-shaped white flowers that have accented yellow centers. This plant attracts bees and butterflies, is resistant to deer, tolerates drought, is both edible and medicinal, self sows, and is great as a cut flower!
(P. somniferum var. paeoniflorum ‘Antique’)
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(P. somniferum var. paeoniflorum ‘Black’)
Black Peony Poppy is an annual flower that is native to the Mediterranean region but can be found growing throughout the northeastern and southwestern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 2-3' and features blue-green foliage and large 4” rose like dark maroon flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, birds, and butterflies, self sows, and is great as a cut flower.
(P. somniferum var. paeoniflorum ‘Cream’)
(P. somniferum var. paeoniflorum ‘Double Mix’)
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Peony Poppy Double Mix is an annual flower that is native to the Mediterranean region but can be found growing throughout the northeastern and southwestern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 2-3' and features blue-green foliage and large 4” rose like flowers that range in color. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, birds, and butterflies, self sows, and is great as a cut flower.
(P. somniferum var. paeoniflorum ‘Pale Rose’)
Pale Rose Peony Poppy is an annual flower that is native to the Mediterranean region but can be found growing throughout the northeastern and southwestern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 2-3' and features blue-green foliage and large 4” rose like light pink flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, birds, and butterflies, self sows, and is great as a cut flower.
(P. Somniferum Paeoniflorum ‘Purple’)
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Purple Peony Poppy is an annual flower that is native to the Mediterranean region but can be found growing throughout the northeastern and southwestern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 2-3' and features blue-green foliage and large 4” rose like purple grape colored flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, birds, and butterflies, self sows, and is great as a cut flower.
(P. somniferum var. paeoniflorum ‘Red’)
Red Peony Poppy is an annual flower that is native to the Mediterranean region but can be found growing throughout the northeastern and southwestern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 2-3' and features blue-green foliage and large 4” rose like red flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, birds, and butterflies, self sows, and is great as a cut flower.
(P. somniferum var. paeoniflorum ‘Salmon’)
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Salmon Peony Poppy is an annual flower that is native to the Mediterranean region but can be found growing throughout the northeastern and southwestern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 2-3' and features blue-green foliage and large 4” rose like salmon pink flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, birds, and butterflies, self sows, and is great as a cut flower.