# Cosmos (*Cosmos bipinnatus*) Cosmos has colorful flowers that come in pink, white, and purple! They are very cheerful and attract lots of butterflies. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Gardens and fields - **Also known as:** Garden Cosmos, Mexican Aster ![Cosmos](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426758/objects/4973.jpg) ## Appearance The Cosmos has cheerful, daisy-like flowers with delicate, feathery foliage. Its petals come in vibrant shades of pink, purple, white, and orange, often with a sunny yellow center. The distinct slender petals radiate outwards, making it visually striking. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Asteraceae - **Genus:** Cosmos ## Interesting facts - Before blooming, Cosmos flower buds nod over, looking sleepy, then perk up to face the sun! - Cosmos can attract beneficial insects like hoverflies, which help protect your garden from pests! - The name 'Cosmos' comes from a Greek word for 'order' or 'harmony' because of its neat petals! - These happy flowers are often called 'cut-and-come-again' because picking them encourages even more blooms! ## Special abilities - **Pollinator Magnet:** Cosmos has bright, open flowers that produce abundant nectar, helping it attract bees and butterflies for successful pollination. - **Sun Seeker:** Cosmos can thrive in full sun and tolerate dry conditions, which helps it grow strong and healthy in open, sunny spots. - **Self-Sower:** Cosmos produces many seeds that can drop and sprout new plants next year, helping it reproduce easily and spread its population. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 60-150 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 5-10 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer to fall - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Annual - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen. - **Pollinates:** [Monarch butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — Feeds on nectar, helping spread pollen. - **Pollinates:** Common Eastern bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — Collects pollen and nectar from blooms. ## Traits - [Annual](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/annual): Annual plants complete their entire life cycle, from germination to seed production, within a single growing season. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. ## Collections - [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Cosmos? Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Cosmos? 60-150 cm ### How wide does Cosmos spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on Cosmos? 5-10 cm ### When does Cosmos bloom? Summer to fall ### Is Cosmos edible? No ### Is Cosmos toxic? None ### What is Cosmos's lifecycle? Annual ## Where to spot - [Anderson University](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/anderson-university) — South Carolina, US · Campus - [Chadron Commercial Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chadron-commercial-historic-district) — Nebraska, US · Historic District - [Green River State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/green-river-state-park) — Utah, US · State Park - [Hyogo Prefectural Flower Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hyogo-prefectural-flower-center) — Kansai, JP · Park - [Osaka Garden of Floral Culture](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/osaka-garden-of-floral-culture) — Kansai, JP · Park - [Alps Azumino National Government Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alps-azumino-national-government-park) — Chubu, JP · Park [View all places to see Cosmos](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/cosmos) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Cosmos: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cosmos)