6 ideas for pairing cosmos

In a cottage garden

White cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Sonata White’) and pink cosmos (Giant Cosmos ‘Sensation Picotee’) add charm to English cottage gardens and country gardens, bringing lightness and elegance. This type of composition, emblematic of English gardens, combines a multitude of easy-to-maintain flowers and foliage, showcasing lush vegetation. Perennials and annuals coexist joyfully, blooming profusely. Many medium-sized plants in fresh colours of blue, white, soft pink, apricot, or mauve can be found here. Plant climbing roses, hollyhocks, and lavateras such as Lavatera ‘Barnsley Baby’ with large pale pink flowers in the background; they will create a floriferous backdrop for these elegant airy annuals. Astrantias, hardy geraniums, a Gaura lindheimeri ‘Blanche’, mealy sages, an Achillea ‘Apple Blossom’, a few clumps of foxgloves, and lupins or rudbeckias will form the community that highlights them. Together, they create a border that requires little maintenance. Asters ericoides ‘Esther’ with soft pink petals, Japanese anemones ‘Andrea Atkinson’, or the airy flowering of Cleome senorita ‘Blanca’ will be good companions in late season in this very lively style of border.

White Cosmos bipinnatus, ‘Barnsley Baby’ lavatera, hollyhock, white gaura, purple foxglove, yarrow, and Japanese anemone ‘Andrea Atkinson’

In a natural meadow

With their candid flowers, natural appearance, and airy foliage, cosmos remind us of wildflowers and are destined for natural and naturalistic gardens. They are perfect for integrating a wild area with soft lines and creating a “Meadow” atmosphere. For example, choose a Giant Cosmos ‘Sensation Radiance’ with giant candy-pink flowers maculate with carmine pink. For a corner reminiscent of a wild meadow, plant alongside yarrow, such as Achillea ‘Cerise Queen’, some Sanguisorba, Eryngium planum, scabious (Scabiosa atropurpurea ‘Chile Black’), asters, echinaceas, Nigella, and Poppies. To accompany them, consider Vernonia crinita var. Alba, a tall perennial reaching 2m, which blooms with small white pom-poms. In this type of composition, grasses are essential to bring structure and lightness. Stipa pennata and Stipa tenuifolia will add softness and a wilder touch, swaying with the slightest breeze.

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Cosmos ‘Sensation Radiance’, Eryngium planum, Scabiosa atropurpurea ‘Chile Black’, Vernonia crinita ‘Alba’, Stipa pennata, and Nigella

In a cut flower garden

With good vase life, Cosmos flowers create chic, fresh, or rustic cut flower arrangements. The endless flowering of Cosmos, from May to the first frosts, makes it an excellent choice for a cutting garden. The Cosmos ‘Apricotta’, for example, has been selected for its tall, sturdy stems perfect for cut flowers. You can pair it with the pot marigold and the radiant flowers of Leucanthemum or “Oxeye Daisy”. The vibrant flowering of dahlias, the highly sought-after echinaceas in floral art, and Helenium, which bloom all summer until autumn, are also among the most beautiful flowers for making bouquets! In this intensely floral corner, don’t forget to reserve a spot for grasses (Calamagrostis, Chinese fountain grass…) which are essential for adding texture and finesse to floral arrangements.

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Cosmos ‘Apricotta’, Leucanthemum, pot marigold, Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Hameln’, Dahlia ‘Babylon Bronze’, and Helenium ‘Mardi Gras’

In a sunny border

There are particularly compact semi-dwarf varieties of Cosmos with excellent durability that fit seamlessly into borders. Their flowering, featuring light daisy-like blooms, helps soften lines with their free and airy appearance. The Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Xanthos’ with pastel yellow flowers, as well as the Cosmos sulphureus ‘Mandarin’ with large semi-double bright orange flowers, are perfect for adding colour and vibrancy to borders among perennials. Pair them with other plants that have a free habit and airy blooms, such as Buenos Aires verbena, which also grows quickly, and Veronicastrum virginicum. Integrate colourful clumps of Crocosmias ‘Sunglow’ and Heleniums like ‘Short’n Sassy’. Finally, punctuate your border with marigolds and complement with Heucheras like ‘Obsidian’, whose almost black foliage will greatly enhance these warm tones. Add low grasses that will bring movement and flexibility, such as Carex comans ‘Bronze Form’, with its fine coppery foliage.

Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Xanthos’, Helenium ‘Short’n Sassy’, Heuchera ‘Obsidian’, Verbena bonariensis ‘Lollipop’ and Carex comans ‘Bronze Form’

In an exuberant summer border

With their natural appearance and lightness, cosmos easily find their place in a naturalistic border. They pair well with other summer flowers to create a country-style summer display exposed to the sun and in well-drained soil. At the back of the border, install the Helianthus annuus, the sunflower or “garden sun” (‘Mongolian Giant’, ‘uniflorus Giganteus’) whose giant flowers will majestically dominate the other blooms. It will brighten the composition by adding a strong chromatic presence and beautiful verticality. Dot the border with some lovely clumps of Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Purity’, a variety with large white flowers that can reach 1.5m. It will add a lot of density to the border and lighten the heavier blooms of this large annual. Pair them with the purple pompom flowers of Buenos Aires verbena and agastaches, such as ‘Blue Fortune’. They will complement some echinacea ‘Harvest Moon’, Heliopsis ‘Tuscan Sun’, and gaillardes ‘Amber Wheels’. A few silver notes scattered here and there will beautifully match these blue and yellow blooms: for example, enjoy the foliage of wormwoods (Artemisia ludoviciana ‘Silver Queen’). In the foreground, you can combine the graphic nature of grasses with these colourful blooms. To lighten this natural scene, consider Pennisetum alopecuroïdes ‘Hameln’, valued for its wild yet structured appearance.

Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Purity’, Heliopsis ‘Tuscan Sun’, Buenos Aires verbena, Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’, Helianthus annuus, Artemisia ludoviciana ‘Silver Queen’ and Gaillardia ‘Amber Wheels’

In a romantic display

To create a romantic-inspired flower bed, focus on soft shades, particularly whites, pinks, and mauves. For example, choose the Cosmos bipinnatus Sonata Series, which features a mix of colours ranging from pure white to deep pink, or the Cosmos ‘Double Click Rose Bonbon’ with its charming pompom flowers. You can pair them with the generous flowering of roses and Verbascum ‘Sugar Plum’, a lovely mullein with flowers in light plum to smoky mauve tones. Accompany them with hollyhocks, Buenos Aires verbenas, and Anthemis carpatica ‘Karpatenschnee’. In the background, add depth with some touches of dark red by choosing, for example, Ricinus communis ‘Honolulu’, interesting for its vibrant colours.

Combine everything with the colourful and airy flowering of Gaura lindheimeri, astrantias, to create a scene that is both natural and delicate. Japanese anemones and asters will take over the flowering at the end of summer.

The silvery grey fluffy foliage (wormwoods, Stachys byzantina) adds a softness of tone that harmonises well with the entire range of these colours. Add lightness with a few tufts of Stipa tenuissima.

Cosmos, rose, Verbascum ‘Sugar Plum’, Ricinus communis, Anthemis carpatica ‘Karpatenschnee’, Stachys byzantina, and Astrantia major