Cosmos Sweet Sixteen Seeds - Cosmos bipinnatus

Cosmos 'Sweet Sixteen' is an eye-catching selection that displays bicoloured daisy-like blooms, blush pink with deep pink margins and a frilled collarette. They appear all season long on semi-tall plants, ideal for cutting! Easy to grow and effortlessly romantic, Cosmos thrive in light soil in a sunny position.

Cosmos bipinnatus is a tender annual plant native to Mexico and the southernmost part of the United States. It belongs to the Asteraceae family alongside Dahlias and daisies, featuring the characteristic inflorescences known as capitulums and very fine, feathery foliage. 'Sweet Sixteen' quickly forms well-branched, semi-tall clumps, about 80 cm tall and 30 cm wide. Flowering starts in June-July, about 60-90 days after sowing, and lasts until October (or the first frosts). The flower heads measure about 5-7 cm across and are made up of a layer of petals arranged around a golden central disc, topped with a small pink collarette. Each petal features a blushed pink centre, suffused or edged with deep pink. Cosmos are a magnet to foraging insects and butterflies, including the monarch butterfly. The finely cut, cloud-like foliage resembles fennel leaves and is delicately scented. Flowers are followed by blackish, spiky seed heads (achenes).

Cosmos is an easy-going, rewarding annual that can single handedly fill a sunny slope, border or flower bed. It is perfect to animate romantic or cottage style gardens. Easy to grow even by beginners, this adorable plant with its feathery green leaves and naive flowers bring light and airiness to heavier blooms such as Dahlias. It combines well with perennial sage, Verbena bonariensis and chrysanthemums until the first frosts. It is particularly useful in new gardens mixed with poppies, love-in-a-mist or cornflowers. Its pretty blooms have a long vase life and are ideal for cutting.