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Flower profile

Cosmos

Quick facts

Botanical name: Cosmos bipinnatus. In SAF's language of flowers, cosmos means peaceful.

Cosmos at a glance

Meaning
peaceful
Colors
  • Pink
  • White
  • Magenta
  • Lavender
  • Maroon
  • Yellow
  • Orange
Vase life
Short - 'only a few days'.
Season
Summer into fall.
Special care
Cut or buy when petals have just opened. Re-cut stems, strip lower leaves and use flower food. Keep cool; replace water every day or two.
Size
An airy annual with lacy foliage and saucer-shaped, daisy-like flowers 2 to 4 inches across on slender stems
Also called
Garden cosmos, Mexican aster

About cosmoses

An airy annual with lacy foliage and saucer-shaped, daisy-like flowers 2 to 4 inches across on slender stems. Plants reach 2 to 4 feet.

How to make cosmoses last

  1. Keep them cool until they are in water. Keep your flowers in a cool place until you can get them into a flower food solution.
  2. Fill a clean vase with water and flower food. Use a clean, deep vase and add the flower food from your florist, following the mixing directions on the packet.
  3. Remove leaves below the waterline. Leaves in water promote bacterial growth that can limit water uptake by the flower.
  4. Re-cut the stems. Remove one to two inches with a sharp knife or clippers that will not crush the stems, then place the flowers straight into the vase.
  5. For cosmoses. Cut or buy when petals have just opened. Re-cut stems, strip lower leaves and use flower food. Keep cool; replace water every day or two.
  6. Keep them in a cool spot. 65 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit, away from direct sunlight, heating or cooling vents and ceiling fans.

Care steps from SAF’s flower care tips. More flower care tips →

Questions about cosmoses

What does the cosmos mean?

In the traditional language of flowers, the cosmos stands for "peaceful".

What colors do cosmoses come in?

Cosmoses come in pink, white, magenta, lavender, maroon, yellow and orange.

How long do cosmoses last in a vase?

Short - 'only a few days'. Re-cut the stems, use the flower food from your florist and keep the vase cool and out of direct sun to get the most days.

How do you care for cosmoses?

Keep cosmoses cool until they are in water, use a clean vase with flower food, remove any leaves below the waterline, re-cut the stems by one to two inches and keep the vase at 65 to 72 degrees, away from direct sunlight and vents. For cosmoses: Cut or buy when petals have just opened. Re-cut stems, strip lower leaves and use flower food. Keep cool; replace water every day or two.

Where can I buy cosmoses?

From a local SAF member florist. Enter the recipient's ZIP code on this page to find florists near them.

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