Cosmos
Cosmos bipinnatus
Family: Asteraceae · Also called Mexican Aster, Garden Cosmos, Bidens bipinnata, Cosmea tenuifolia, Cosmos spectabilis
Green & Fresh · Summer–Autumn bloomer
The cosmos is a flower of effortless grace. Rising on thread-thin stems to shoulder height, its daisy-like blooms sway in the slightest breeze, creating a living impressionist painting. The feathery foliage is as delicate as the flowers themselves. Cosmos thrive on neglect, rich soil produces leaves at the expense of flowers, so they bloom most generously in poor, dry conditions.
order, harmony, beauty, peace
In the Victorian language of flowers, cosmos means “Order and harmony in the universe”. The name 'cosmos' comes from the Greek word for order and harmony, Spanish priests in Mexico named the flower for its evenly placed petals, which they saw as reflecting the ordered beauty of the universe. In Korea, cosmos flowers (kosumoseu) are deeply associated with autumn and line rural roads by the millions.
Did You Know?
Cosmos actually bloom better in poor soil. Fertile soil makes them tall and leafy but produces fewer flowers. The chocolate cosmos (C. atrosanguineus) smells exactly like dark chocolate and is one of the rarest flowers in the world, functionally extinct in the wild.
Meadows, roadsides, and disturbed ground across Mexico and Central America
Cosmos is native to Mexico, Central America. It naturally grows in meadows, roadsides, and disturbed ground across mexico and central america.
Scent Profile
“A gentle, sweet-green whisper, cosmos are about lightness and movement, dancing on slender stems.”
Quick Reference
- Scientific NameCosmos bipinnatus
- FamilyAsteraceae
- Native ToMexico, Central America
- Bloom SeasonSummer–Autumn
- LifespanAnnual
Cultural Significance
The name 'cosmos' comes from the Greek word for order and harmony, Spanish priests in Mexico named the flower for its evenly placed petals, which they saw as reflecting the ordered beauty of the universe. In Korea, cosmos flowers (kosumoseu) are deeply associated with autumn and line rural roads by the millions.