Cosmos sulphureus

Cosmos sulphureus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Cosmos
Species: C. sulphureus
Binomial name
Cosmos sulphureus
Cav.
Synonyms

Bidens sulphurea

Cosmos sulphureus is also known as Sulfur Cosmos and Yellow Cosmos. Its native habitat is Central America.

This species of Cosmos is considered a half-hardy annual, although plants may re-appear via self-sowing for several years. Its foliage is opposite and pinnately divided. The plant height varies from one to seven feet. The original and its cultivars appear in shades of yellow, orange, and red. It is especially popular in Korea and Japan, where it is often seen in mass plantings along roadsides, following an initiative pursued by the Korean-Japanese botanist Woo Jang-choon.

This plant was declared invasive by the United States Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council in 1996 [1].

Some of the varieties of Cosmos sulphureus in cultivation today include:

Growth characteristics of this plant include:

The flowers of all Cosmos attract birds and butterflies, including the Monarch butterfly. Cosmos sulphureus is featured in the 1997 Japanese film Remembering the Cosmos Flower.

References

  1. ^ Plant Profile of Cosmos sulphureus

External links