Try for Free
tab list
PictureThis
English
arrow
English
繁體中文
日本語
Español
Français
Deutsch
Pусский
Português
Italiano
PictureThis
Search
Search Plants
Try for Free
Global
English
English
繁體中文
日本語
Español
Français
Deutsch
Pусский
Português
Italiano
This page looks better in the app
picturethis icon
Instantly identify plants with a snap
Snap a photo for instant plant ID, gaining quick insights on disease prevention, treatment, toxicity, care, uses, and symbolism, etc.
Download the App for Free
Continue Reading
Garden cosmos

How to identify Garden cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus)

Garden cosmos, also known as Annual cosmos

Garden cosmos is distinguished by its showy, daisy-like flowers which span a range of colors including maroon, pink, lavender, and white. Each bloom is characterized by its symmetrical formation, mirroring the Greek meaning of its name. This herbaceous plant can reach towering heights of up to 4 feet (1.2 meters), featuring an upright growth habit. Its leaves are finely divided, imbuing it with a delicate, feathery appearance that complements the bold floral display.

Lifespan

Lifespan: Annual

Plant Type

Plant Type: Herb

Leaf Type

Leaf Type: Deciduous

Quickly Identify Garden cosmos

1

Daisy-like flowers in maroon, pink, lavender, and white colors.

2

Symmetrical, saucer-shaped blooms with yellow centers.

3

Narrow, cylindrical-fusiform fruit with distinctive beak and erect awns.

4

Lacy, deeply cut leaves with a fern-like appearance and fine texture.

5

Erect, unbranched stem with smooth texture and variable green coloration.

Garden cosmosGarden cosmosGarden cosmosGarden cosmosGarden cosmos

Detailed Traits of Garden cosmos

Leaf Features

The lacy, thread-like leaves of garden cosmos are deeply cut, giving them a distinctive fine texture. These green, sessile leaves are arranged oppositely and are pinnatisect. Each leaf blade measures approximately 6~11 cm (2.4~4.3 inches) in length and 3~5 cm (1.2~2 inches) in width, with entire margins and an acute apex. The intricate, fern-like appearance is a key identifying feature, contributing to their delicate and ornamental look.

Leaf Arrangement

Opposite

Garden cosmos Leaf Arrangement image
Learn About the Leaf Glossary
Group
Flower Features

The flowers of garden cosmos are notable for their 2-4-inch (5-10 cm) saucer-shaped, daisy-like blooms, available in various colors including purple, pink, and white. Each flower head, 1.2-2.4 inches (3-6 cm) in diameter, features ray corollas with numerous petals (25-40 mm long) radiating from a yellow center (6-7 mm long). The flowers are borne on 4-8 inch (10-20 cm) peduncles and are surrounded by calycular bracts 0.2-0.5 inches (6-13 mm) long. Blooming all season, they are equally admired for their showy, compound, and radiate appearance.

Garden cosmos Flower imageGarden cosmos Flower image
Inflorescence Type

Capitulum/Head

Garden cosmos Inflorescence Type image
Learn About the Flower Glossary
Group
Stem Features

The stem of garden cosmos is predominantly erect to ascending and unbranched. It is mostly glabrous but may occasionally have fine, minute hairs. The stem is terete (cylindrical) in shape and typically measures between 1 to 3 feet (30 to 90 cm) in length. Its texture is smooth, ensuring an easy identification, and it displays a green coloration that can subtly vary in intensity. This combination of features contributes to the plant's distinct structural profile.

Garden cosmos Stem imageGarden cosmos Stem image
Learn About the Stem Glossary
Group
Fruit Features

The fruit of garden cosmos is characterized by its narrow, cylindrical-fusiform shape, typically measuring around 0.28~0.63 inches (7~16 mm) in length. These achenes are smooth and glabrous, presenting a distinctive beak at their apex. Adorning the fruit are 1 to 3 firm, erect awns, each being roughly 0.04~0.12 inches (1~3 mm) long, adding to the unique texture and appearance of the fruit.

Learn About the Fruit Glossary
Group
Icon code

Scan QR code to download

More Plants You May Like and How to Identify Them
Img topic
Cape jasmine

Gardenia jasminoides is an evergreen shrub with unique, glossy evergreen leaves and stunning flowers. The sophisticated, matte white flowers are often used in bouquets. The exceptional beauty of this ornamental plant has made it a popular and highly appreciated plant amongst gardeners and horticulturalists.

Img topic
Golden pothos

The golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is a popular houseplant that is commonly seen in Australia, Asia, and the West Indies. It goes by many nicknames, including "devil's ivy", because it is so hard to kill and can even grow in low light conditions. Golden pothos has poisonous sap, so it should be kept away from pets and children.

Img topic
Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum is an annual or perennial herbaceous vine native to Central and South America that produces a large, juicy, edible fruit known as tomato. Today there are over 10000 cultivated varieties. Although tomato is the world’s most popular vegetable, botanically it is a fruit.

Img topic
Pepper

The pepper are commonly used for cooking in places such as the Southern U.S. and Central America. Most are moderately spicy, though because there are so many variants, the spice level can vary dramatically. Cayenne powder is also a popular seasoning product made from pepper plants.

Img topic
Swiss cheese plant

The swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa) produces bright, glossy leaves and makes a popular houseplant. It is originally native to tropical forest regions in Central America. The nickname swiss cheese plant refers to the small holes that develop in the plant's leaves. The long fruits resemble corncobs and smell sweet and fragrant when ripe.

Img topic
Bigleaf hydrangea

The bigleaf hydrangea is a deciduous shrub native to Japan, and is known for its lush, oval, colorful inflorescence. The two types of Hydrangea macrophylla are mopheads - with large, ball-shaped, sterile flower clusters, and lace capes - with small round fertile flowers in the center, and sterile flowers on the outer side of each inflorescence. Depending on soil pH, blooms can change color from pink to blue.

Identify Garden cosmos easily and quickly
We're also capable of identifying over 12,000 types of plants, flowers, succulents, and trees in your surroundings.
Identify a Plant Online

Key Facts About Garden cosmos

Attributes of Garden cosmos
Lifespan
Annual
Plant Type
Herb
Plant Height
61 cm to 2.5 m
Spread
40 cm
Leaf Color
Green
Flower Size
5 cm to 10 cm
Flower Color
White
Pink
Yellow
Red
Purple
Orange
Cream
Stem Color
Green
Red
White
Pink
Leaf type
Deciduous
Identify plants with a snap
Instantly identify plants with AI: Snap a photo, and get accurate results within seconds.
Download the App for Free

Scientific Classification of Garden cosmos

Family
Daisy
Icon allow
Genus
Cosmos
Icon allow
Species
Garden cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus)
Learn More About the Garden cosmos

Distribution Map of Garden cosmos

Garden cosmos is native to Mexico. Loved for its beauty as a garden plant, it has been introduced to much of the United States and South America as well as the southern half of Africa, west and central Europe, and many Pacific islands, including Australia. It has escaped cultivation and has naturalized in grassy and disturbed areas.
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
close
close
Your Ultimate Guide to Plants
Identify grow and nurture the better way!
product icon
17,000 local species +400,000 global species studied
product icon
Nearly 5 years of research
product icon
80+ scholars in botany and gardening
ad
ad
Botanist in your pocket
qrcode
PictureThis Ios DownloadPictureThis Android Download
Scan the QR code with your phone camera to download the app