Cosmos 'Cotton Candy Mix'

Cotton Candy Mix Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus 'Cotton Candy Mix')

Cotton Candy Mix cosmos delights with a whimsical blend of Apricotta, Xanthos, and Xsenia, offering a dreamy palette of soft apricots, gentle yellows, and iridescent magentas that shift subtly as blooms age. Large, cupped flowers rise gracefully on airy stems, creating a romantic, floaty effect in garden borders, cutting gardens, or cottage-style beds. This charming mix pairs beautifully with pale lavender cosmos, creamy amaranths, or soft pink zinnias, while providing gentle contrast to richer burgundy or magenta blooms, adding texture and intrigue to any floral composition.

A magnet for bumblebees and other beneficial pollinators, Cotton Candy Mix encourages life and gentle movement throughout the garden. Its prolific, long-lasting blooms make it a perfect choice for enchanting bouquets and romantic garden displays, offering whimsical elegance, subtle colour shifts, and timeless charm from summer until the first frost.

DETAILS:

QTY: 25

TYPE: Annual
 
SITE: Full sun

DEPTH: Cover Lightly

GERMINATION: 7-10 days at 20-22°C

HEIGHT: 24 - 36"

MATURITY: 75 - 90 Days

SPACING: 12"

PINCH: 12"

HOW TO GROW:

Transplanting (recommended): Sow seeds into seedling containers 5–7 weeks before your average last frost date, covering seeds lightly with fine soil or vermiculite. Keep moist and provide good light. Harden off seedlings for 7-10 days before transplanting outdoors after all danger of frost has passed.

Direct Seeding (alternative): Sow seeds directly outdoors after your last frost date, once the soil temperature is consistently above 16∘C. Cover seeds lightly with soil.

Soil & Fertilizing
Cosmos thrive in well-draining soil and actually prefer poor to average soil conditions. Rich soil or excessive fertilizer will encourage lush foliage at the expense of flowers. For best blooms, avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers. If needed, a light application of a balanced, low-nitrogen fertilizer (such as 5-10-10) once or twice during the season is sufficient. Overfeeding will result in fewer flowers and leggy plants. These low-maintenance blooms are happiest when neglected a little—just be sure the soil doesn't stay soggy.

Pinching: Pinching back young cosmos plants encourages branching, leading to more flowers and a bushier plant habit. Simply snip off the top inch or two of the main stem once the plant has developed a few sets of true leaves. Tall varieties may also benefit from some wind protection or staking as they grow.

Harvesting/Vase Life: Individual cosmos blooms typically last 4-6 days in a vase. However, each stem is loaded with multiple blossoms that will open sequentially over about a week. For the longest vase life, harvest stems when the flowers are just beginning to unfurl but haven't fully opened. This helps to prevent insect pollination, which can shorten their lifespan. Using a floral preservative in the vase water is recommended.