Gold Sulphur Cosmos
Cosmos sulphureus

days to maturity: 50
plant spacing: 1 plants per 2 square feet
sunlight requirements: 8-14 hours
look out for: 
harvest notes: not edible, harvest flowers as needed
seasons: fall, winter, spring, summer
annual

Gold cosmos is a cheerful annual that thrives in tough conditions—poor soil, full sun, and even some drought don’t slow it down. Its finely cut foliage and golden-yellow blooms bring a light, airy texture to gardens from late spring through fall. While you may be familiar with small feathery pink and red cosmo varieties those don’t love our climate, so we choose to grow the yellow, red and orange types in the “sulphur cosmo” category. These plants are much larger, sometimes reaching 6 feet tall, and they branch spectacularly, giving them a much different look in the garden. In zone 10b, cosmos can be planted as starts in the cooler months for a long season of flowers. They prefer not to be over-fertilized, as too much nitrogen encourages leaves at the expense of blooms. Regular deadheading helps extend the show, though they’ll keep blooming even with minimal care. Gold cosmos is also a magnet for butterflies and other pollinators, making it a strong addition to pollinator gardens and meadow-style plantings. The blooms last well when cut, adding bright color indoors as easily as they do outside.