Japanese name: コスモス Scientific name:Cosmos bipinnatus
[Overview]
An annual about 2 m tall.
The stem branches freely.
The leaves are opposite and finely pinnately cut, with almost thread-like lobes.
The flowers are solitary at the stem tips.
The flowers are about 6–10 cm across and consist of ray florets around the edge and tubular florets in the center.
There are usually 8 ray florets.
There are many cultivars, with ray florets in a wide range of colors including white, yellow, orange, pink and red, and some have unusual flower forms or are dwarf.
The cultivars also fall into two groups, early-flowering and late-flowering, and the latter are sometimes called "Akizakura".
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed and by cuttings.
Cultivation is easy, and it grows anywhere that is sunny and well drained.
[Notes]
The etymology is the Greek kosmos, meaning "beautiful".
