Thrives in poor soil; too much fertilizer reduces blooms
Select your zone to highlight your exact planting dates. Dates are calculated from each zone's average frost dates.
| Zone | Last Frost | Start Indoors | Transplant | Direct Sow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 2A | May 30 | May 2 | May 30 | Jun 6 |
| Zone 3B | May 15 | Apr 17 | May 15 | May 22 |
| Zone 4A | May 8 | Apr 10 | May 8 | May 15 |
| Zone 4B | May 1 | Apr 3 | May 1 | May 8 |
| Zone 5A | Apr 25 | Mar 28 | Apr 25 | May 2 |
| Zone 5B | Apr 18 | Mar 21 | Apr 18 | Apr 25 |
| Zone 6A | Apr 21 | Mar 24 | Apr 21 | Apr 28 |
| Zone 6B | Apr 10 | Mar 13 | Apr 10 | Apr 17 |
| Zone 7A | Apr 5 | Mar 8 | Apr 5 | Apr 12 |
| Zone 7B | Mar 28 | Feb 28 | Mar 28 | Apr 4 |
| Zone 8A | Mar 20 | Feb 20 | Mar 20 | Mar 27 |
| Zone 8B | Mar 12 | Feb 12 | Mar 12 | Mar 19 |
| Zone 9A | Feb 28 | Jan 31 | Feb 28 | Mar 7 |
| Zone 9B | Feb 15 | Jan 18 | Feb 15 | Feb 22 |
| Zone 10A | Feb 1 | Jan 4 | Feb 1 | Feb 8 |
| Zone 10B | Jan 15 | Dec 18 | Jan 15 | Jan 22 |
| Zone 11A | Jan 1 | Dec 4 | Jan 1 | Jan 8 |
Cosmos are elegant, easy flowers that thrive in poor soil and attract pollinators all season.
Good companions: vegetables and herbs — attracts beneficial insects
Avoid planting near: none — cosmos are universally friendly
Flowering in 60-90 days from seed; excellent cut flower