Cosmos atrosanguineus - Chocolate Cosmos

Description

This decidious perennial grows to 18 inches round with velvety dark maroon flowers in summer and fall smelling of chocolate. It needs excellent drainage, full sun, and average to moderate water. Good in containers and perennial beds.Cosmos atrosanguineus is marginally winter hardy. Drainage is an absolute requirement.

The flower is one of the prettiest. It offers excellent cuttings for bouquets. It begins blooming in May, picks up speed in June, & in July the clump is chock full of bobbling blooms that easily catch a breeze. It will continue to produce blooms through mild early frosts -- for us, the flowers appear in great numbers up to October with a few remaining in November, even without much deadheading. This rivals the Gaura in persistence of gorgeous blooms. In winter the clump dies to the ground.

With excellent drainage and heavy winter mulching it will often survive the winters in zone 6.
If you have doubts about the plants survival, you can dig the tuber just as you would with Dahlias. Once the foliage has died back, carefully dig the clump, cut the stems back to within 2 inches of the tubers, and store in slightly moist peat moss in a frost free place.

Hardiness: Zones 7-10
Plant Use: Perennial
Bloom Time: May Through October
Full sun
Water Requirements: Moist, Well Drained

Questions?

Call The Graybarn Nursery directly at 425-898-8265
or email us at graybarn@pacifictopsoils.com.