Cosmos bipinnatus
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| File:Cosmos bipinnatus pink, Burdwan, West Bengal, India 10 01 2013.jpg | |
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C. bipinnatus
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| Binomial name | |
| Cosmos bipinnatus Cav., 1791
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Cosmos bipinnatus, commonly called the garden cosmos or Mexican aster,[2] is a medium-sized flowering herbaceous plant native to Mexico. The species and its varieties and cultivars are popular as an ornamental plant in temperate climate gardens. It naturalized in scattered locations across North America, South America, the West Indies, Italy, Australia, and Asia, where it is a garden escape (introduced species) and in some habitats becoming a weed.[3][4][5][6][7]
Contents
Description
Cosmos bipinnatus is considered a half-hardy annual, although plants may reappear via self-sowing for several years. The plant height varies from 2–4 ft (0.61–1.22 m). The cultivated varieties appear in shades of pink and purple as well as white. Its foliage is finely cut into threadlike segments. When flowering, the plant can become top heavy. This problem is alleviated when grown in groups, as the bipinnate leaves interlock, and the colony supports itself.[3]
Varieties
Some of the varieties of Cosmos bipinnatus in cultivation today include:
- 'Sensation', also known as 'Early Sensation', is a widely available mix of tall varieties
- 'Sensation Pinkie'[8]agm
- Sonata series[9]agm
- 'Versailles', developed for the cut flower trade, are shorter than the species, with heights remaining below three feet
- 'Daydream' features a pink inner ring on a white background
- 'Seashells' features quilled petals
(those marked agm have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit).
Cultivation
Growth characteristics of this plant include:
- Germination takes between 7 and 10 days at the optimal temperature of 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24 °C); flowering begins between 60 and 90 days after germination
- It prefers a soil pH between 6.0 and 8.5, reflecting its native habitat in the alkaline regions of Central America
- Flowering is best in full sun, although partial shade is tolerated
Excessive rain can cause cultivation problems, due to the delicate nature of the stems. Heavy rain can cause breakage. Cosmos bipinnatus can tolerate heat as long as adequate moisture is provided, however, it does not handle droughts, strong winds or cold temperatures well. Snails, slugs and aphids have a taste for Cosmos bipinnatus. Successfully cultivated plants can mature 2 to 4 feet x 12 to 18 inches.[10]
Pollinators
The flowers of Cosmos bipinnatus attract birds and butterflies,[10] including the Monarch butterfly. It can be part of butterfly gardening and pollinators-honey bee habitat gardens.[10]
Gallery
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Cosmos bipinnatus7.jpg
Cosmos bipinnatus,typical range of colours in a dense stand
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Cosmos bipinnatus 'Double Click' Leaves 1600px.jpg
The leaves of the plant
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Cosmos bipinnatus flower bud.jpg
The flower buds
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Cosmos bipinnatus (5).jpg
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Cosmos bipinnatus 09 ies.jpg
Detail of florets
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Cosmos bipinnatus 10 ies.jpg
Detail, lateral aspect
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Seeds of Cosmos bipinnatus 2012.08.13 15-52-05.jpg
Seeds of Cosmos bipinnatus
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Schmuckkörbchen mit Biene.jpg
A honeybee pollinates a cosmea flower
References
- ↑ The Plant List, Cosmos bipinnatus Cav.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
- ↑ Flora of North America, Cosmos bipinnatus Cavanilles
- ↑ Flora of China, 秋英 qiu ying, Cosmos bipinnatus Cavanilles
- ↑ Atlas of Living Australia
- ↑ Altervista Flora Italiana, Astro messicano, fiederblättriges Schmuckkörbchen, rosenskära, Cosmos bipinnatus Cav.
- ↑ Royal Horticultural Society Plant Selector Cosmos bipinnatus 'Sensation Pinkie' Royal Horticultural Society Gardening
- ↑ Royal Horticultural Society Plant Selector Cosmos bipinnatus Sonata Series AGM / Royal Horticultural Society Gardening
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
- Cosmos history and cultivation, Texas A&M University
- Cosmos Festival in Argentina - Press and video
- Jepson Manual Treatment - Jepson Manual, University of California, Cosmos bipinnatus
- United States Department of Agriculture Plants Profile
- Cosmos bipinnatus - Calphotos Photo gallery, University of California
