Flower
Cosmos
Cosmos bipinnatus
Airy daisies on tall stems — flower from midsummer until frost.
Full sun
Moderate
Average
Easy
Yes
Ornamental
Annual
Half-hardy
5 L
20 cm
Situations where this plant is a reliable fit — from someone's kitchen sill to a wind-blown rooftop.
Balcony
A few pots on a flat outdoor perch — some sun, some wind.
Ladder planter
A tilted step-ladder with a shallow tray on each rung — sun-facing, five tiers of herbs, salad and strawberries in the footprint of one pot.
Raised bed
A traditional plot or timber-sided bed — deepest root run, widest planting choice.
7 days
Warm water hold
Filler
Yes
Cut at
Cut when the bud has cracked open and shows colour, not when fully open.
Honest note
The single most productive cut flower per square metre. Cut weekly.
Where to source
Get growing in United Kingdom
Shop local first
The best plants come from a real nursery, and the best trowel comes from the old-fashioned ironmonger down the road — people who know their stock and can advise. Try local first, both for the plant and the kit. It keeps small growers and small hardware shops alive.
Searching near London
For pots, compost, seed trays, twine and other kit — Amazon has the essentials if the local option isn't right. Not a plant nursery; use the local map above for the plant itself.
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