Cosmos sulphureus Bright Lights Mix - seeds

Cosmos sulphureus 'Bright Lights Mix' ensures a long and intense flowering with shimmering shades of orange and yellow. These are undemanding annual plants, known for their easy cultivation and rapid growth to form a bushy, erect and branched clump, adorned with finely cut dark green foliage. During summer and until autumn, its bright flowers attract many pollinators, including bees and butterflies, contributing to the biodiversity and biological balance of the garden. The exuberant and intense flowering brings brightness and charm to flower beds, borders, pots and meadows. They gracefully enrich romantic and rustic gardens, harmoniously mingling with perennial plants, bulbs and roses, while offering an inexhaustible source of flowers for making various floral compositions. Sown in March and transplanted in April, they will begin flowering from mid-June. The seeds come from organic farming.

Cosmos sulphureus, also known as Sulphur Cosmos, Mexican Cosmos, or Klondike Cosmos, belongs to the asteraceae family. Native to Mexico and widely distributed in Africa and Asia, it is considered an invasive plant in the United States and Brazil. This not very hardy annual plant, related to Dahlias, shows a characteristic flower head and coarser foliage than the bipinnate cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus). It has a branched habit and finely cut, light green, ferny leaves and flowers constantly from June to the first frost. The flowers have dyeing properties, producing an orange-yellow dye which was used in Native American cultures and later in southern Africa to dye wool.

The 'Bright Lights' variety forms a branched clump about 0.60 to 0.70 m tall, with a spread of 0.30 to 0.40 m. The stems bear fine, 15 to 20 cm long ferny leaves with five pinnate lobes to the central vein, in a pretty light green. They emit a light and pleasant fragrance. It begins flowering around June-July, approximately 80 to 90 days after sowing, and continues until mid-autumn. The semi-double flower heads measure 6 to 8 cm in diameter and have pleated and toothed petals in shades of yellow, golden yellow, bright orange or vermilion red, surrounding a golden yellow central disk. The flowers have very good vase life, able to last 7 to 10 days without losing their brightness. After flowering, the plant produces blackish conical seeds, seed-grown plants may differ from their parent. The flower petals are edible and can enhance salads with their spicy taste.

The Cosmos Bright Lights Mix blends perfectly with other varieties of Cosmos and can be easily associated with different plants such as perennial salvias, Buenos Aires verbena, Tree Mallow, Cleomes, Common Mallow, Peruvian Heliotrope or Love-in-a-Mist. Despite its delicate appearance, it is robust and easy to maintain. It will flower without difficulty, regardless of the conditions: modest soil, heat, humidity... As long as it receives sunlight.

An ecological asset: Throughout the summer, the nectar-rich flowers of Cosmos attract pollinating insects, butterflies and birds to your garden. A good way to improve the ecosystem and promote fruit and vegetable production in your vegetable garden. Tip: At the end of the season, let the plants dry naturally on the stem; this will provide seeds for birds, especially goldfinches.

Organic or "AB" seeds come from plants grown in organic farming (without using phytosanitary products). They undergo no treatment after harvest. These seeds are suitable for organic market gardening.