Cosmos bipinnatus
Family: Asteraceae
Common name: MEXICAN ASTER
Native to: Mexico, Southern United States
Sentiment: joy in love and life
Plant
Type: annual
Forms: erect, open form
Max height: 6.6 feet
Max width: 1.5 feet
Flower
pink
Leaf
green
Horticulture
Attracts wildlife: adult butterfly, bird, specific butterfly species
Plant part consumed by birds: seeds
Exposure: sun
Landscape use: container
Propagates by: seed
flowers in summer
Soil types: loam, well drained
USDA Zones: zone 7 to 0 f, zone 8 to +10 f, zone 9 to +20 f, zone 10 to +30 f, zone 11 to +40 f
Temp. range: 0 to above +40 °F
Water: moderate
Butterflies that feed on this plant
Cosmos, a Compositae comprised of 46 species, is widely available and grow in Zones 7-11. Most need moderate watering. Many are around 1½ feet tall and come in a variety of colors including the dark red Cosmos atrosanguineus.
Cosmos bipinnatus, a pink-flowering annual, grows to 6 ½ feet tall by 1 ½ feet wide and can be grown from seed. It grows in Zones 7-11, needs moderate watering and prefers full sun. It can be grown in a large container. It is native to the southern United States.
In addition to the butterflies that come to plants in the Compositae family to feed, Cosmos bipinnatus attracts Vanessa cardui, PAINTED LADY and Pieris napi, GREEN-VEINED WHITE.
