Eight plants to grow with cosmos (2024)

Published: Wednesday, 31 July 2019 at 2:49 pm

Discover eight of the best cosmos combinations.

Cosmos are half-hardy annuals with daisy-like flowers that are easy to grow from seed and are incredibly long flowering, from midsummer until the first frosts.

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They're very useful for filling gaps in summer borders, look good in meadow-style planting schemes and are ideal for container displays. They make fantastic cut flowers and are great for wildlife, too – they attract bees, butterflies and hoverflies.

Discover 10 colourful cosmos to grow.

For the best results, sow seeds in March or April. Harden off the seedlings before planting out in a sunny spot, and deadhead the spent blooms regularly to prolong flowering.

Cosmos look good with many different plants – here are eight inspirational combinations.

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Cosmos and calendula

Here, the magenta Cosmos bipannatus 'Dazzler' is grown in drifts, combined with a tall marigold, Calendula officinalis 'Indian Prince'. Both are easy to grow from seed and make excellent cut flowers.

Eight plants to grow with cosmos (1)

Cosmos and zinnia

In this all-pink combination, the daisy-like flowers of pale pink cosmos are enhanced by magenta zinnias. Discover eight essential border daisies to grow.

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Cosmos and tobacco plant

White cosmos and tobacco plant (nicotiana) are two essential components of a white garden. If you mostly enjoy your garden in the evening after work, white plants work really well as they show up well in the fading light. Discover how to grow nicotiana from seed.

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Cosmos and dahlias

Cosmos and dahlias both bring colour and long-lasting blooms to gaps in borders and both are staples of the cutting patch. As their flower forms can be quite similar, grow contrasting colours. Browse our plant database for over 70 beautiful dahlias to grow.

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Cosmos, thalictrum, nepeta and hardy geranium

In this blue and white display, annuals and perennials combine – the white cosmos is combined with the spray like white flowers of Thalictrum delavayi 'Album', the blue flowers of catnip (Nepeta racemosa 'Walkers Low') and Geranium 'Orion'.

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Cosmos, French marigold and bidens

Orange and white is quite an unusual flower combination – the yellow/orange centre of the cosmos complements the orange of the double flowers of French marigold (tagetes) and tickseed (bidens).

Eight plants to grow with cosmos (6)

Cosmos and eryngium

Cosmos bipinnatus 'Antiquity' has flowers that start off crimson, then fade slightly. They contrast with the icy blue, spiky flowers of Eryngium x zabelii 'Big Blue'.

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Eight plants to grow with cosmos (7)

Cosmos and Verbena bonariensis

Cosmos look great in meadow-style planting schemes. Here they are paired with airy Verbena bonariensis. Both plants will flower for months on end.

Eight plants to grow with cosmos (8)

Eight plants to grow with cosmos (2024)

FAQs

Eight plants to grow with cosmos? ›

Anchor the cutting garden with multiple varieties of cosmos. You may also want to include other annuals like zinnias, sunflowers, larkspur, bells of Ireland, and bachelor's buttons. Because cosmos flowers are so easy to grow, they make a fun choice for a children's garden.

What plants go with cosmos? ›

Anchor the cutting garden with multiple varieties of cosmos. You may also want to include other annuals like zinnias, sunflowers, larkspur, bells of Ireland, and bachelor's buttons. Because cosmos flowers are so easy to grow, they make a fun choice for a children's garden.

Can I plant cosmos next to tomatoes? ›

Cosmos attract butterflies, lacewings, and hoverflies. You can plant cosmos to flower right along with your tomatoes all summer.

Can zinnias and cosmos be planted together? ›

Cosmos is a popular companion plant for zinnias due to its complementary growth habits and ability to attract pollinators.

Can cosmos and snapdragons be planted together? ›

Plant Snapdragons among other reliable self-seeding annuals for a low-maintenance and naturalistic garden design. Some great options include nasturtium, cosmos, zinnias, and calendula, which all grow well with Snapdragons and bloom all summer long.

How many cosmos should you plant together? ›

Cosmos should be planted 9-12 inches apart, and ideally supported with horizontal netting. If you don't plan to use netting, space them a bit closer so they help support one another (although tighter spacing can hasten the spread of disease).

Where do you put cosmos in the garden? ›

They are happy planted in moderately poor soil. Plant the cosmos in full sun and water well, then add a mulch to help conserve moisture. Stake and tie plants if necessary during the growing season and don't forget to water regularly as they grow.

Can you plant cosmos with cucumbers? ›

To Improve the Harvest

Partner annual flowers and herbs like cosmos, zinnia, borage, and basil with cucumbers to attract pollinators to the vegetable garden.

What should you not plant near tomatoes? ›

Companion Plants To Avoid Growing Near Tomatoes
  • Brassicas. Cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts, and kohlrabi can stunt the growth of your tomato plant because they out-compete them for the same nutrients. ...
  • Corn. ...
  • Fennel. ...
  • Dill. ...
  • Potatoes. ...
  • Eggplant. ...
  • Walnuts.
Feb 1, 2022

What is the best flower to plant with tomatoes? ›

Marigolds

These flowers have been grown with tomatoes for years as gardeners believed that the marigolds deterred harmful insects. Recent studies have confirmed that the gardeners were right. Marigolds are particularly good at controlling whiteflies.

Can you plant cosmos close together? ›

Plants get very bushy and prefer a little extra room to spread out, so space plants 12 to 18 in (30 to 46 cm) apart. Once in the ground, cosmos will grow rapidly, so be sure to stake them early, while they are still young.

How far apart should I plant cosmos? ›

Sow and Plant

Plant seeds in prepared soil about 2 inches (5 cm) apart and one-half inch (1 cm) deep. Thin to 8 inches (20 cm) apart in all directions for dwarf varieties; allow 12 inches (30 cm) between very tall varieties.

Can I just scatter zinnia seeds? ›

Even the planting process is easy. I put down fresh mulch, then sprinkle the Zinnia seeds where I want them. I don't worry about spacing or anything, I just scatter them.

What vegetables can be planted with cosmos? ›

Vegetable companions
  • Tomatoes – Cosmos and tomatoes get along like old friends. Cosmos attract bees and other friendly pollinators, which often pay a visit to tomatoes while they're in the neighborhood. ...
  • Beets – Beets actually do fine without cosmos, so what's the reasoning behind this combination?
Feb 22, 2021

Can you plant cosmos with peppers? ›

Pair hot peppers with annual flowers and herbs like cosmos, zinnia, borage, and basil to increase visits from pollinators and pepper yields. Interplant beans with peppers to maximize pepper growth and increase yield. For best results, sow bean seeds one week before transplanting pepper seedlings.

Can I plant cosmos with dahlias? ›

So, if you're looking to create a summer border that offers both visual drama and a variety of textures and colors, this combination of Dahlias, Ammi visnaga, Echinacea purpurea, and Cosmos is a winning choice.

Are cosmos a companion plant? ›

Cosmos grows quickly and can reach heights of up to 6 feet, making it a perfect choice for filling in bare spots in your garden. Cosmos flowers are also excellent companions for vegetables because they attract beneficial insects like ladybugs while repelling destructive pests like tomato hornworms.

What grows well with poppies? ›

Companion Plants For Oriental Poppies
  • Bearded Iris (Look for rebloomers)
  • Yarrow (Achillea)
  • Goldenrod (Solidago)
  • Jupiter's Beard (Centranthus)
  • Aster.
  • Tall Garden Phlox.
  • Catmint (Nepeta)

What is the best month to plant cosmos? ›

Sow cosmos seed indoors between March and April for the longest flowering season; plants should begin to bloom from late June or July and will continue until the frosts. Plants can also be direct-sown outdoors but will start to flower later.

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