Bright Lights – Heirloom Cosmos Seed

New! Easy-to-grow cosmos for gardens and pollinator plantings.
Vigorous plants flower over a long season, creating rich color in the garden and a vibrant food source for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Plant architecture is tall but open and airy, so plants are less prone to lodging or falling over than Cosmos bipinnatus types. Excellent choice for color in summer gardens. 1 1/2–2" wide, double and semidouble blooms in shades of orange and gold. Sometimes used as cut flowers, though they do not last long in the vase, dropping petals after 5 days. Flowers are also used to create natural dyes for fiber and fabrics. Plants readily self-seed. Also known commonly as Dyer’s cosmos and sulfur cosmos. Native to the Americas and Mexico. For mass plantings, sow at 5 oz./1,000 sq.ft. or 14 lb./acre. Ht. 40–48". Avg. 3,800 seeds/oz. Packet: 200 seeds.
DAYS TO GERMINATION: 7-10 days at 68-72°F (20-22°C)
SOWING: Transplant – Sow into 50-cell plug flats or preferred seedling container 5-7 weeks before planting out, covering seeds lightly. Harden off and transplant out after danger of frost. Direct seed – Sow after last frost, once soil temperature is above 60°F (16°C), covering seeds lightly. Pinching encourages branching.
LIGHT PREFERENCE: Sun.
PLANT HEIGHT: Varies. Tall varieties may benefit from some wind protection, such as Hortonova, used as horizontal support.
PLANT SPACING: 9-12". Wider spacing creates stronger, thicker stems.
HARDINESS ZONES: Annual.
HARVEST: Petals just opening, but not yet flattened. Deadheading is required to have blooms all summer.
SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Any soil.
USES: Excellent cut flowers. Beds, containers, and mass plantings.
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Cosmos spp.