Annuals come into their own this month and none more colourful than the Cosmos which was introduced into this country in 1800 from Mexico. These big, bright and beautiful daisy-like flowers come in many colours and heights. The most common variety C. bipinnatus with large yellow-eyed daisy flowers in the burgundy-red-pink-white colour range include the taller ‘Purity’ that will grow to 1.2m and suited to the back of the border. The shorter varieties like ‘Apollo’ are good to grow in containers and new types include ‘Xanthos’ the first yellow-flowered variety. Keep the containers fairly large though as even the shortest plants reach 45cm tall and as much across.
Varieties derived from C. sulphureus have smaller flowers in scarlet, orange and yellow shades set against slightly broader, darker leaves. [unfortunately I do not have any images of this type]
C. atrosanguineus is the Chocolate cosmos which is hugely popular with richly chocolate-coloured, and chocolate-scented, flowers. This is a half-hardy perennial that develops tubers like those of a slimline dahlia and may need to be overwintered indoors. This is also a good candidate for containers.
Cosmos enjoy plenty of sunshine and any reasonable soil, although rich, moist conditions encourage exuberantly leafy growth at the expense of flowers. If you ensure to deadhead throughout summer into early autumn, you’ll continue to get beautiful flowers right through the season.
Earth laughs in flowers 
So cheery! I always like them 😍🌸🌼💕
I only grew the taller white ones last year, but these have been fab. just keep on going!
I like the strong pinks. 🙂 🙂 Any further forward with the young un? Had laptop issues but Mick appears to have resolved them tonight.
Lots happening, will message you tomorrow after my visit.
No annuals in my garden this year. Roses and some of the perennials such as fleeceflower and lavender just keep going and going like the pink bunny rabbit battery.
Cosmos make me think of late summer, so pretty
They are really good value plants.
I don’t plant many annuals, but fancied the Cosmos to fill the tulip pots. However the Sweet William carried on flowering in two of them!
Cosmos always make such a beautiful display and they last for a long time. I must search out some of the chocolate variety.
The chocolate ones are lovely and there is a variety called chocamocha now which is a bit shorter than the original. It is not hardy though so needs shelter from frost.
A lovely selection and thanks for the info on ones that can be grown in containers
they are such a wonderful flower, as with many flowers this year though I have not got round to planting any so lovely to see yours
Such versatile plants – love ’em, great pics!