Annual cosmos have fine foliage and open, saucer-shaped flowers in white, pink, red, orange, or yellow. They are members of the daisy family.
- Plant in full sun and ordinary, well-drained soil after frost danger has passed. Rich fertilizer can produce lots of leaves and fewer flowers.
- Direct-sow according to the packet, or start indoors only three or four weeks before the usual final frost.
- Cultivars range from compact edging plants to stems well over 4 feet (1.2 m), so use the packet for spacing and place taller plants where they will not shade small ones.
- Water new plants while they establish. Mature plants tolerate short dry spells but still bloom better without severe drought.
- In an exposed garden, loosely stake tall cultivars before they bend.
- Leave some open flowers for bees and other pollinators. Deadhead for continued bloom, then allow selected heads to mature if you want to save seed.