| Scientific Name: | Cosmos bipinnatus |
| Common Name: | cosmos, Mexican aster |
| Family Name: | Asteraceae |
| Origin: | Mexico |
| Hardiness Zone: | Zone 9: (-7 to -1 °C) |
| Plant Type: | Annual (true) |
| Mature Size: | 0.7 - 1.3m x 0.6 - 1.0m (height x width) |
| Habit: | Spreading, Upright |
| Form: | Vase |
| Texture: | Fine |
| Landscape Uses: | Attract beneficial insects, Attract butterflies, Bedding plant, Container planting, Cut flower or foliage, Perennial border |
| Exposure: | Full sun |
| Soil or Media: | Well-drained |
| Leaves: | Simple, Lobed, Dissected, Alternate, Soft flexible, Glabrous, Ovate, Incised |
| Flowers: | Head (capitulum), White, Pink, Magenta, Red, Jun-Jul-Aug-Sep |
| Fruit: | Achene, Brown, Oct |
| Key ID Features: | |
| Leaves alternate, ovate in outline, most 6-11cm long x 3-9cm wide, deeply cut into threadlike pinnae (pinnatisect), segments linear, 0.4-1.5 mm wide with leaflets ; flower heads separated, saucer-shaped, daisy-like, 5-10cm wide. | |