Cosmos bipinnatus

Cosmos bipinnatus (cosmos) — an airy, easy, generous Mexican annual named by missionaries for its orderly petals; a top cut flower and pollinator favourite. The botanical home of our cosmos range.

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  • Dwarf Sensation Mixed seeds (Cosmos bipinnatus) – annual mix Dwarf Sensation Mixed (Cosmos bipinnatus) – annual mix seeds from SeedsChoice
    Cosmos Dwarf Sensation Mixed Seeds Cosmos Bipinnatus Annual
    €5,95

    Compact annual cosmos with mixed colour blooms cosmos dwarf sensation mixed seeds are a compact, floriferous choice for bright summer colour in borders and containers. This dwarf cosmos flower seeds mix produces airy, finely divided...
  • Apricotta seeds (Cosmos bipinnatus) – annual flower Apricotta (Cosmos bipinnatus) – annual flower seeds from SeedsChoice
    Cosmos Apricotta Seeds Cosmos Bipinnatus Annual Flower
    €5,95

    Apricot-pink annual cosmos for borders and pots cosmos apricotta seeds produce an elegant annual flower with a soft apricot-to-pink tone and a light, airy look. This variety is closely related to Cosmos bipinnatus and is...
  • Xanthos seeds (Cosmos bipinnatus) – annual flower Xanthos (Cosmos bipinnatus) – annual flower seeds from SeedsChoice
    20%
    Cosmos Xanthos Seeds Cosmos Bipinnatus Annual Flower Variety
    €4,76€5,95

    Compact lemon-yellow cosmos for sunny containers cosmos xanthos seeds produce a compact annual flower variety with soft, lemon-yellow blooms and a neat, bushy habit. This dwarf cosmos annual is well suited to patio pot cosmos...
  • Sensation seeds (Cosmos bipinnatus) – organic annual flower Sensation (Cosmos bipinnatus) – organic annual flower seeds from SeedsChoice
    Cosmos Sensation Seeds Organic Cosmos Bipinnatus Annual Flowers
    €4,95

    Organic annual cosmos for tall borders cosmos sensation seeds are an organic choice for gardeners who want airy, classic summer colour in beds and borders. This variety belongs to Cosmos bipinnatus and is valued for...
  • Sea Stars seeds (Cosmos bipinnatus) – annual mix Sea Stars (Cosmos bipinnatus) – annual mix seeds from SeedsChoice
    Cosmos Sea Stars Seeds Cosmos Bipinnatus Annual Mix
    €4,95

    Cosmos Sea Stars annual mix for borders cosmos sea stars seeds are an eye-catching choice for anyone who wants a distinctive garden cosmos annual display with unusual, tubular blooms. This sea stars cosmos mix is...
  • Sensation seeds (Cosmos bipinnatus) – annual mix Sensation (Cosmos bipinnatus) – annual mix seeds from SeedsChoice
    Cosmos Seeds Cosmos Bipinnatus Annual Sensation Mix
    €4,45

    Cosmos Sensation Mix for Sunny Borders cosmos seeds in the Sensation Mix are a classic choice for adding airy, cottage-garden style colour to beds and borders. This annual selection of Cosmos bipinnatus produces large, decorative...
  • Hummingbird White seeds (Cosmos bipinnatus) – annual flower Hummingbird White (Cosmos bipinnatus) – annual flower seeds from SeedsChoice
    Cosmos Hummingbird White Seeds Cosmos Bipinnatus Annual Flower
    €5,95

    Elegant white annual cosmos for sunny gardens cosmos hummingbird white seeds produce airy, white blooms on a compact, graceful annual that suits borders, beds, and patio displays. This variety of Cosmos bipinnatus is valued for...
  • Sensation Mixed seeds (Cosmos bipinnatus) – annual mix Sensation Mixed (Cosmos bipinnatus) – annual mix seeds from SeedsChoice
    Cosmos Sensation Mixed Seeds Cosmos Bipinnatus Annual
    €4,45

    Cosmos mix for tall sunny borders cosmos sensation mixed seeds are an annual flower seed mix selected for airy plants with finely divided, ferny foliage and a long season of colour. This variety is based...
  • Dwarf Sensation Mixed seeds (Cosmos bipinnatus) – annual mix Dwarf Sensation Mixed (Cosmos bipinnatus) – annual mix seeds from SeedsChoice
    Cosmos Seeds Dwarf Sensation Mixed Cosmos Bipinnatus Annual
    €5,95

    Dwarf Sensation mixed cosmos for compact displays cosmos seeds in the Dwarf Sensation Mixed selection offer a compact, floriferous annual suited to borders, patio planters, and small garden spaces. This is a dwarf cosmos flower...
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Cosmos bipinnatus — the cosmos

Cosmos bipinnatus is the botanical name for the garden cosmos, an airy, free-flowering annual that has become one of the easiest and most generous cut flowers of all. It is the species behind our cosmos range within the flower seed collection.

History & origin

Cosmos is native to Mexico, and it was Spanish missionaries who gave it its name: struck by the neat, evenly spaced petals, they called it cosmos, from the Greek for order, harmony and beauty — the same root as our word for the ordered universe. Easy, elegant and quick from seed, it spread rapidly into gardens around the world.

The species name bipinnatus describes the foliage: “twice pinnate,” for the fine, feathery, ferny leaves.

Botanical characteristics

A tall, billowing annual reaching well over a metre, cosmos carries large, simple, saucer-shaped flowers in pink, white, crimson and bicolours above a cloud of delicate foliage. The open blooms are superb for bees, butterflies and hoverflies, making it a favourite among our pollinator and bee-friendly flowers, while its long stems and long vase life make it a cut-flower staple.

Growing Cosmos bipinnatus from seed

Cosmos is wonderfully easy and thrives on a little neglect — too rich a soil gives leaves at the expense of flowers. Sow under cover in spring or direct once it is warm, give it full sun, and keep cutting or deadheading to fuel months of bloom right up to the frosts. Our flower growing guide and flower sowing calendar cover the timing.

Ready to grow cosmos? Browse the varieties or learn the basics first.

Related categories: Cosmos · Cut Flowers · Pollinator Flowers · Bee-Friendly Flowers · All Flower Seeds

At SeedsChoice, every order ships from Meppel, NL with fast, tracked EU delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Cosmos bipinnatus?
It is the garden cosmos, an easy, airy annual grown as a cut flower.

Where does cosmos originate?
From Mexico.

What does the name mean?
“Cosmos” is Greek for order and beauty, after the tidy petals; bipinnatus describes the feathery foliage.

Is cosmos good for pollinators?
Yes — the open flowers are loved by bees, butterflies and hoverflies.

How do I grow it?
Sow in spring or direct when warm, in full sun and not-too-rich soil, and keep cutting.