Knowing your climate zone will help you decide the best time to sow the vegetables, herbs and flowers you want to grow, and which varieties should perform well in your garden. Growing plants that are suited to your climate zone will usually give you the best results in your garden.
Not often seen in the florist’s shop, cosmos are beautiful and easy to grow annuals that produce an abundance of cut flowers. With their delicate, airy blooms and long stems, they make a romantic addition to any bouquet.
Read on to learn more about growing a continuous supply of cosmos to add to your floral arrangements, find out when to pick flowers and varieties recommended for cut flowers.
Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) is a warm-season annual originating from Mexico. Thanks to recent breeding efforts, cosmos are available in a huge selection of colours and types, including single and double flowers, dwarf varieties and more. Newer cultivars have ruffled, pleated or fused petals, variegated or striped flowers and muted, on-trend colors. What’s not to love?
Cosmos are delightful and dreamy flowers that can add a pop of color and whimsy to any floral arrangement or garden. Their wispy, delicate petals come in a variety of vivid colors like pink, orange, yellow, and white. Many gardeners wonder – are cosmos good cut flowers? The answer is a resounding yes! Cosmos make fantastic cut flowers and are a must-have in any cutting garden
In this complete guide, we will cover everything you need to know about growing and using cosmos as gorgeous cut flowers.
An Overview of Cosmos as Cut Flowers
Here are some key things to know about cosmos as cut flowers:
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Long Vase Life – Cosmos have a notably long vase life for cut flowers, typically lasting 7-14 days.
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Wide Availability – They are available as cut flowers from early summer through fall frost.
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Color Variety – Cosmos come in a diverse range of colors like white, pink, coral, orange, red, purple, and yellow.
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Long Stems – The long, upright stems with lots of blooms make cosmos ideal for cutting.
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Prolific Bloomers – Deadheading cosmos encourages prolific blooming all season long.
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Adaptable Flowers – Cosmos work beautifully in any style of floral design from wildflower bouquets to formal arrangements.
With proper care, cosmos produce an abundant supply of cute, delicate blooms perfect for brightening up your home with floral beauty.
Best Cosmos Varieties for Cut Flowers
While all cosmos work well as cut flowers, some varieties have been specifically bred with the cut flower gardener in mind. Here are some of the best cosmos varieties for cut flower use:
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Sensation Mix – A classic cosmos mix with large 2-3” double blooms on long, sturdy 18-30” stems. Blooms in a vibrant range of pink, purple, white and red.
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Seashells Mix – Gorgeous semi-double blooms shaped like seashells. Grows 24-28” tall in lovely pastel shades of white, pink, rose and light purple.
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Apricot Lemonade – Cheerful lemon yellow blooms with a hint of apricot. Blooms prolifically on 20-24” plants.
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Rubenza – Vibrant rosy-red single blooms on long cutting stems. Blooms abundantly once established.
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Xsenia – Unique crested blooms in mix of rose, pink, carmine and white on 18” compact plants.
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Double Click – Fully double, pom pom-like blooms. Fun for floral designs. Grows around 30” tall.
When planting cosmos, choose a spot that receives full sun and has fertile, well-draining soil. Give plenty of space between plants and water during dry spells. Deadhead spent blooms to prolong flowering.
When and How to Cut Cosmos for Vase
Timing is key when harvesting cosmos blooms for the vase. Follow these tips:
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Cut in the early morning when flowers are full of water.
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Select flowers that have recently opened or are in bud stage.
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Use clean, sharp pruners to cut stems on a slant.
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Cut stems 8-12” long, retaining some foliage.
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Immediately place in water after cutting.
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Remove any leaves that would sit below the water line.
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Re-cut stems and change water every 2-3 days.
Cutting cosmos blooms that have freshly opened ensures the longest vase life compared to older, pollinated blooms. Enjoy your fresh cut cosmos for up to 2 weeks with proper care!
Caring for Cut Cosmos Flowers
Follow these simple steps to maximize the vase life of your gorgeous cut cosmos:
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Hydrate – Place freshly cut stems in lukewarm water immediately after cutting. Add floral preservative if desired.
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Locate – Display arrangements away from direct sun, drafts, heat and ripening fruit which produce ethylene gas.
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Maintain – Check water levels daily and recut stems every 2-3 days. Replace water as needed.
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Groom – Gently remove any flowers or foliage that wilt or discolor.
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Enjoy – With proper hydration and care, arrange and appreciate your cosmos blooms for up to 2 weeks!
Taking measures to reduce ethylene exposure and bacteria in water will keep cut cosmos looking lovely longer.
Designing With Cosmos Flowers
The delicate nature of cosmos blooms makes them ideal for imparting a dreamy, whimsical feeling to floral designs. Here are some tips:
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Pair different colored cosmos blooms together for pops of contrast.
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Use their airy form to create movement and texture.
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Accent with grasses, vines or foliage with interesting shapes.
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Cluster in small, natural looking bouquets or let them meander down a table runner.
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Weave slender stems into wreaths, garlands or backdrops.
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Float single blooms in glass bowls or containers.
Cosmos are versatile blooms that pair well with other cottage garden flowers like zinnias, snapdragons, dahlias, asters and more. Have fun playing with their wispy, romantic vibe!
Growing Cosmos in the Cutting Garden
Including cosmos in your cutting garden ensures a steady supply of whimsical blooms. Here are some key tips:
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Sow seeds directly in garden 2-3 weeks after last frost.
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Space plants 8-12” apart in full sun location.
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Pinch plants when 10” tall to encourage bushy growth.
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Water regularly to keep soil evenly moist.
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Pick blooms frequently to promote new flower production.
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Deadhead spent blooms to prolong harvest season.
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At end of season, save seeds for planting next year!
Plant both early and late blooming cosmos varieties for the longest season of fluffy blooms.
Common Problems With Cosmos
Cosmos are generally easy to grow but can be prone to:
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Powdery Mildew – Avoid wetting foliage. Improve airflow and reduce shade.
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Aphids – Dislodge with strong spray of water. Use insecticidal soap as needed.
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Birds – Protect ripening seeds with netting if desired.
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Short Stems – Ensure proper spacing. Pinch young plants.
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Small Blooms – Allow soil to dry between waterings. Apply balanced fertilizer.
With proper site selection, plant care and harvest methods, cosmos are sure to delight with their charming, fluffy blooms all season long. Growing cosmos provides the home gardener with an abundant source of whimsical cut flowers. Add this colorful beauty to your garden this year!
Cosmos as Cut Flowers
There are several reasons why cosmos are a great choice for cut flowers. They are quick and easy to grow, making them a reliable source of flowers. They are also cut-and-come-again repeat bloomers, which means you can continue to harvest flowers from the same plant throughout the growing season. Cosmos flower from mid-spring to the end of autumn. Theyre also self-seeders, and that means free plants for seasons to come.
Depending on the variety used, cosmos can add a naturalist wild look to arrangements, or a more refined romantic touch. While cosmos have a relatively short vase life of four to six days, picking branched stems can extend this as side buds will open as the central flowers fade.
How to Use Climate Zones
First, find your climate zone using the map or descriptions below. Next, refer to our sowing chart, which provides approximate sowing times for our most popular seeds for each climate zone.
While knowing your climate zone is helpful when planning your garden, there are many other factors that may affect how your plants grow, including unseasonal weather conditions, the specific microclimate of your garden and how you care for your plants. You know your garden better than us, so if a different climate zone seems to ‘fit’ your garden better, go ahead and use it as a guide.
Our climate zones cover huge areas of Australia, so we recommend gardeners also consider their local conditions when planning what and when to plant. For example, gardeners in alpine areas have shorter growing seasons than gardeners in cool coastal areas, even though both alpine and coastal areas are included in our ‘Cool Temperate’ climate zone. We recommend gardeners in cool regions look at the ‘days to maturity’ information provided for each variety and choose those that will mature in a short (6-12 week) growing season.
- Includes: Darwin, Cairns, Townsville, Exmouth
- High humidity summers with most rainfall in summer and dry, warm winters. Includes northern Australia from Exmouth (WA) across to south of Townsville (Qld).
- Set as my climate My climate
- Includes: Alice Springs, Mildura, Albury-Wodonga, Shepparton, Wagga Wagga, Dubbo
- Hot dry summers, winters can be warm or cool depending on the region. Includes a large area of central Australia from the WA coast to Charleville (Qld), Tamworth (NSW) and Albury-Wodonga (NSW/Vic).
- Set as my climate My climate
- Includes: Brisbane, Bundaberg, Coffs Harbour, Gold Coast, Hervey Bay, Mackay, Rockhampton, Sunshine Coast
- Warm humid summers with high summer rainfall and mild winters. Includes coastal Queensland and northern NSW from north of Mackay to just south of Coffs Harbour.
- Set as my climate My climate
- Includes: Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, Newcastle, Toowoomba, Central Coast NSW, Wollongong, Bunbury
- Moderate humidity and reliable rainfall, with four distinct seasons. Includes coastal areas from north of Port Macquarie to south of Woollongong in NSW, coastal SA and the southeastern coast of WA.
- Set as my climate My climate
- Includes: Melbourne, Canberra, Hobart, Launceston, Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Mt Gambier
- Low humidity with most rainfall in winter; hot dry summers and cold winters. Some regions will experience frosts and snow. Includes coastal areas of south-eastern Australia and alpine areas of Victoria, NSW and Tasmania.
- Set as my climate My climate
What if I can’t find my climate zone? If you can’t locate your zone from looking at the map or the descriptions on this page, we suggest that you think of an area that has a climate that’s similar to yours and use the zone for that area as a guide.
What if I live on the border of two zones? If you live near the border between two zones we suggest you read the descriptions for both zones and decide which best describes the climate where you live. Depending on the microclimate in your garden, you may be able to grow a wider range of plants over a longer season than others in your zone. Lucky you!
What is a microclimate? A microclimate is a small area where the temperature or humidity differs to the climate of the surrounding area. For example, if you live in a climate zone where frosts are common but your garden is protected by buildings or large trees, your garden may be frost-free. Similarly, if you live in a warm temperate zone but your garden is at a high altitude your microclimate may have more in common with the cool temperate zone, so use this as a guide when deciding which zone is relevant to you.
Can I grow varieties not listed for my climate zone? While our climate zones and sowing chart will help you decide what is suitable to plant in your garden, they provide general guidance only. We recommend you start by sowing seed that’s recommended for your climate zone; once you get a few successes under your belt you can experiment with varieties in neighbouring zones and see how you go – gardening is all about experimenting after all!
Not often seen in the florist’s shop, cosmos are beautiful and easy to grow annuals that produce an abundance of cut flowers. With their delicate, airy blooms and long stems, they make a romantic addition to any bouquet.
Read on to learn more about growing a continuous supply of cosmos to add to your floral arrangements, find out when to pick flowers and varieties recommended for cut flowers.
Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) is a warm-season annual originating from Mexico. Thanks to recent breeding efforts, cosmos are available in a huge selection of colours and types, including single and double flowers, dwarf varieties and more. Newer cultivars have ruffled, pleated or fused petals, variegated or striped flowers and muted, on-trend colors. What’s not to love?
What I’ve Learned About Cosmos and Zinnias for U-Pick Flowers
FAQ
Do cosmos do well in a vase?
Many flower growers cut branches rather than individual stems; when the central flower fades, the side buds will open, extending the vase life. Harvest regularly and deadhead to keep plants in flower longer. Cosmos are an excellent choice for cut flowers, offering an easy-to-grow, prolific source of beautiful blooms.May 18, 2023
How to make cosmos last in a vase?
Provide your flowers clean water daily, and give your stems a fresh snip every other day.
What are the disadvantages of cosmos flowers?
But there are a few limitations… 1️⃣ Needs warmth to germinate – Won’t start well in cold soil. 2️⃣ Tall varieties need staking – They can get leggy and flop over. 3️⃣ Not frost-hardy – The first frost will wipe them out.
Are Cosmos A good cut flower?
Here’s an in-depth look at why cosmos are so ideal as a cut flower and how to grow and use them for gorgeous arrangements and bouquets. There are several reasons why cosmos are considered one of the best choices for cut flower gardens: They are easy to grow, undemanding, and bloom prolifically from early summer until fall frost.
Are Cosmos good for cuttings?
Our friend Cosmos is a super practical addition to any cutting garden. It’s easy to grow….has a long flowering period…keeps producing flowers after you cut them…and it lasts well in the vase. Cosmos are right up there in the flowery hall of fame when it comes to the best flowers for your cutting patch.
Do Cosmos stop blooming?
If plants are not regularly harvested or deadheaded, they will stop blooming. Nearly every type of Cosmos can be used to cut flower use, but there are some varieties that have been bred specifically for cut flower use, rather than ornamental use. Some Cosmos have “single” petals, while other are “double” petals.
Are Cosmos A good annual flower?
With their delicate, daisy-like blooms in a rainbow of colors, cosmos are one of the most charming and rewarding annual flowers you can grow. Not only do these hardy plants produce abundant flowers all season long, but cosmos also make fantastic fresh cut flowers.
Do cosmos flowers have a scent?
Cosmos flowers have no scent. Cosmos flowers have a long vase life, up to two weeks. Cosmos flowers are available year-round. Cosmos flowers are ideal for bouquets, centerpieces, and other flower arrangements. What types of Cosmos are best used as cut flowers? As a gardener, you may be wondering what types of cosmos are best used as cut flowers.
What tools should I use when cutting cosmos flowers?
Whenever you cut cosmos flowers, it’s best to use a sharp, sterile pair of pruning shears or secateurs. Sharp tools allow you to make clean cuts, reducing the risk of diseases or pests affecting your cosmos. Sterilizing your tools is important to eliminate potential contamination between your plants.