Sea Shells Cosmos Seeds

Sea Shells cosmos offer a beautiful blend of white, pink and crimson flowers. This favourable heirloom variety was introduced shortly after the widely celebrated ‘Sensation’ won the All-America Award of Merit in 1936. Sea Shells has since been a popular choice for northern and southern growers alike.

Sea Shells are as easy to maintain as they are beautiful. They grow tall, bushy and prolific, their charm and production limited only by a frost. Extremely drought-tolerant once established, this heirloom variety of cosmos benefits from constant cutting and will continually push up more blossoms. The sea shell shaped, pleated petals are a wonderful accent in the garden and floral arrangements. Wildlife aficionados will delight in the visits from bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. 

Long, slender stems are perfect for cutting and popping into a vase. The longstanding flowers will endure when cut, or simply leave them on the plant to enjoy as they waft in the summer and fall breeze. 

- Latin Name: Cosmos bipinnatus
- Life Cycle: Annual
- Days to Maturity: 75-90
- Planting Depth: lightly press 4-5 seeds into soil
- Plant Spacing: 25-35 cm
- Growth Habit: 30-45 cm tall

GROWING INSTRUCTIONS

These easy-to-grow annuals are a popular garden flower for many reasons. Daisy-like in appearance, cosmos bloom quickly, attract bees, butterflies and birds and bloom through the fall. Coming in a variety of appealing colours, the blooms freely flower on top of tall, thin stems.

Seeds can be started indoors four to six weeks before the last frost. Plant in flats or individual pots. Germination should occur in 7-21 days. When seedlings reach 10-12 cm, transplant to larger pots or get them ready to move outside. When all danger of frost has passed, young cosmos can be gradually hardened off to prepare for transplanting into the garden.

Prepare the garden bed by loosening the soil 20 cm deep. Seeds can be spaced to recommended distance, or sown freely and thinned as they sprout and grow. Cover seeds lightly with soil and water well. Choose a site that receives full sun 

Native to Mexico and Central America, cosmos will thrive in extreme heat with as much sunshine as possible. These heat-loving flowers prefer poor to ordinary soil, as long as it is well-drained. Planting in nutrient-rich soil could cause the plant to grow too much foliage instead of flowering, or they may get too tall and fall over. If this happens, stake tall plants or grow them close to each other for support.

When cosmos are established, they will only need to be watered if there are extreme drought conditions. If water supply is limited, cosmos will survive the longest without irrigation. Fertilizer is not recommended for cosmos. Feeding may lead to excessive foliage growth and stunted blooming. Cosmos are beautiful, yet durable, and very low-maintenance. They grow without much attention, will self-sow and don’t attract many problematic pests. If provided enough space in between plantings, proper airflow will help prevent diseases.

The only upkeep that cosmos really require is deadheading. This will prolong their blooming window and lead to more abundant flowering overall. If the plants seem to be getting out of control, they can be sheared back by about a third when most of the flowers have faded. This pruning will rejuvenate the plant and lead to a second growth of foliage and flowers. At the end of the season, cosmos can be cut to the ground or pulled out by the roots. Or, leave the plants in place if you’d like them to self seed. Cosmos usually bloom in 50-60 days and are perfect for cut flowers, adding elegance and colour to bouquets.  

QUICK FACTS

- The flower is named after the Greek word ‘’Cosmos,’’ meaning harmony or balanced universe.

- Cosmos seeds will remain viable for 2 years if stored in a cool, dark place, ideally between 4 and 10⁰C. After that, the germination rate may start to go down.