I planted a little patch of these this year, and they did well in spite of the fact that they were planted late-ish. They have performed well, but now they are beginning to fade a bit so I thought I'd take a few fotos before they were ready to throw in the towel. The remainder of the patch. Then, a series of several specimens in the patch--the bloomers and the dwindlers. Normally a dying flower is not a pretty sight, but I found these interesting, in a way. ...and finally a different perspective. The bees really seemed to like these flowers this year, but I am seeing less and less now--due to the coolless, I suppose.
Beautiful, I love Cosmos. I have had good luck with the Cosmos sulphureus (Sulphur Cosmos, Yellow Cosmos) reseeding themselves for several years. But the Cosmos bipinnatus (Garden Cosmos, Mexican Aster) seedlings I transplanted from around the yard into one bed were dismal failures. I got one bloom and that was on a 6" tall plant way back in June, the others got huge with really thick stems but not one flower. They will all come up tomorrow.
Yes, I quite like them as well. I want to try that yellow (Cosmea sulphureus) one next year, Toni.How tall do these yellow cosmeas grow to? What a peculiar story about your transplants. I am surprised that they did not bloom. Is there any way that you could have had too much nitrogen in the plot where you planted them? So they will be pulled up tomorrow eh?...relegated to the compost pile, I reckon--that way they won't be a total waste of time. Things like this really do get my interest. I like to understand why plants don't do what one expects them to do. Better luck next year.
About those Cosmea sulphureus. Does anyone grow them in a more northern climate? I was wondering if anyone had experience with them. They do well for Toni down in Texas, but I wonder if they would flourish up here in a cooler and wetter climate.
I love your blooms, dying or not! And I would never have the heart to pull them up until they were well and truly dead. I'd hope against hope that they'd bloom before winter. I've never tried growing them but I have seen them in other people's gardens and also as plants in garden centers, so we can if we want to.
Sjoerd where I transplanted them to last spring is the same place their parent plants were growing last year. Some got scattered by birds to other places and some of those I left where they were. The soil hasn't had any extra nitrogen added, I am wondering if there is a problem with third and fourth generation seeds just not being strong enough to bloom. As long as you plant them in full sun and well drained soil they should grow just fine for you. My yellow ones are 24 inches tall and have been blooming for about two months. No telling where I will find their seedlings next year.
DROOPY-- I am happy that you loved the blooms. I quite like them as well, even when dying. One looked sort of like an octipus to me. Perhaps you should try the Cosmea once, you might like them. They are very easy. Well TONI-- I suppose that you could have something there, but if they were not hybrids, I shouldn't think that that would be a problem. It's a very curious problem. Thanks for the info regarding the yaller Cosmea. 24 inches is a decent height, although these plants that I heve photographed here are much taller. I am already thinking of where I would like to plant them, even though I have not yet located any plants. hahaha. Thanks for taking the time to respond to my inquiry.
I have the cosmo bipinnatus. In pink. They come back every year. Not sure what happened to my white ones. I'll have to look for those yellow ones for my next year garden. pink cosmo's ( photo / image / picture from petunia's Garden )
By the way. I sure do like the looks of your cosmos. Especially those ones in pink edged with darker pink.
Thanks alot Petunia. Those Cosmea that you liked are my favourite. I couldn't help but notice that yours were low compaired to mine. I wonder is one of our plants is the sub-species of the other. I shall have to look into that. Anyway, your bipinnatus ones look gorgeous. Cosmea are such simple and un-complimented planys with such nice flowers. I sometiomes use them as cut flowers in the house.
You know cosmos are one of my favorites Sjoerd...I love them because they give me some late color in the garden...in fact I throw the seeds out later to accomplish this. My favorites are the orange and yellow ones...but too hard to keep the seeds separate once the heads are dried. I have been saving as many seeds as I could so I won't have to buy so many next season. My orange were shorter when I first starting growing them but this year they got a lot taller. Cosmos.... ( photo / image / picture from Sherry8's Garden ) These are drying so they are not as colorful as they have been. I love the orange and yellow because they seem to dry right on the plant and you can pick the seeds right off of the plant. Those are my trumpet lily stems in the background of this picture. Bee ( photo / image / picture from Sherry8's Garden )
Thanks for your response Sherry. ...annnnd...the picture. I can get a really good visual idea now. I deadhead my Cosmeas to keep them producing more and more flowers. I expect them to go well into october.
Our weather is getting cold and I wanted seed so I have been letting them dry for me and the birds. I was going to get a picture of the orange seeds, they are different in how they dry than the colored ones.
