Cosmea is a grassy branching plant with bright and fairly large flowers. It belongs to the Astrov family. In many countries, flower beds have been decorated with decorative varieties of cosmea for several centuries, but it was first discovered in Central and South America. No wonder cosmea is also called "Mexican aster", "cosmos", "decoration", "beauty". This non-capricious and bright plant is very convenient for inexperienced or busy gardeners. Some varieties winter successfully in the southern regions, but in central Russia, cosmea is often grown as an annual, changing its floral arrangement annually.
Plant description
Cosmea is a grassy annual or perennial with thin, highly branched stems along the entire length. Its height is 50-150 cm. The shoots are covered with smooth bright green skin with reddish stains. Opposite openwork leaves grow on them, which, together with the stems, form a sprawling shrub similar to an airy green foam. The leaf segment adjacent to the long stalk is oval with a pointed edge or thin, similar to soft needles.
Cosmea flowering begins in June and continues until the first frost. In the upper part of the processes are corymbose or paniculate inflorescences. Each flower is an inflorescence-basket with a diameter of 6-12 cm. It has a fluffy center of tubular flowers of black or dark brown color. Yellow anthers rise above it. The core may be flat or spherical. It is edged with one or more rows of reed flowers with golden, red, white, pink or purple petals. The petals of a reed flower can grow together in a flat sail or form a more decorative whole bell.
Plants are pollinated by insects, after which dry achenes with a lush crest ripen. Elongated dark brown seeds retain germination for up to three years.
Garden varieties
The clan of cosmea is not very extensive. It contains about 24 species. In the culture, only 3 main varieties and a huge number of decorative varieties are used.
Cosmea twice-feathered. The popular garden annual is distinguished by thin, dill or needle-like leaves of bright green or olive color. The height of the highly branched upright vegetation is 80-150 cm. In the upper part of the shoots, inflorescences-baskets with a diameter of 7-10 cm are formed. Each grows on a separate, thin flower-bearing stalk. The convex center is covered with large yellow stamens. Along the edges there is a number of reed flowers of purple, pink, red or snow-white color. A narrow linear petal has a wavy or rounded edge. Varieties:
- Puritas - filiform stalks end with snow-white flowers with wide, triangular petals;
- Radiance - corrugated petals expand to the edge, forming a solid circle, closer to the center on the petals there is a contrasting spot.
Cosmea sulfur yellow. The thermophilic variety has denser branched shoots covered with cirrus-dissected foliage. Individual segments of the sheet are wider. They are painted in dark green. Vegetation up to 1.5 m high is completed by bright orange flowers with a diameter of up to 5 cm. The core is taller and more crowded than the previous species. It consists of golden tubular flowers with dark brown anthers on top. The inflorescence is surrounded by corrugated bright orange petals with a wavy edge. Varieties:
- Bilbo - golden-orange semi-double flowers bloom on stems about 50 cm high;
- Diablo - blossoms bright red simple inflorescences.
Cosmea is blood red. The variety looks very unusual, thanks to large flowers with maroon petals and an almost black core. The surface of the petals is matte, as if velvety. During flowering, a sweet chocolate aroma spreads over the flowerbed. Under the flowers on the stems are dark green, unpaired leaves.
Recently, there have been many varieties with lush flowers that combine under the name terry cosmea. In the official classification, this group is not represented as a separate species. However, it is very popular among gardeners. Varieties:
- Ladybug - a bush up to 30 cm tall blooms with yellow, red or orange semi-double inflorescences with a diameter of up to 7 cm;
- Sunny Gold - bright yellow terry flowers over a low emerald shoot;
- Pink Valley - light pink inflorescences with a diameter of up to 10 cm consist of several rows, shortened to the center of the petals.
Cosmei cultivation
In a temperate climate, even perennial kosmey is cultivated as an annual, therefore, it is considered as an affordable method of its reproduction seed. Allowed sowing seeds in open ground or pre-growing seedlings. When sowing cosmea in the garden, flowering will begin no earlier than the end of July. As soon as the snow melts, prepare shallow holes. Seeds are distributed in groups of 3-4 pcs. with a distance of 30-40 cm. They close up to a depth of 1 cm. After planting, the soil is carefully watered. Subsequently, seedlings are cared for as adult plants. Only at first, watering should be careful not to wash the plants from the soil. Too thick places thin out slightly.
With growth in one place, cosmea gives abundant self-seeding. In this case, it is not necessary to specially sow it in spring, since young plants will necessarily appear on their own. It is enough to thin out them and give the plantings the desired shape.
If you first grow seedlings, then the first cosmea flowers can be seen already in early June. For this, seeds are sown in shallow boxes with a sand-peat mixture in the first ten days of March. They are only slightly pressed into the soil so that light hits the surface of the seed. The temperature in the room should be + 18 ... + 20 ° C. Shoots appear after 1-2 weeks. When the seedlings grow slightly, they are dived into another box with a distance of 10-15 cm. After the dive, the cosmea is transferred to a room with a temperature of + 16 ... + 18 ° C.
Perennials can also be propagated by tubers and cuttings. Tubers are dug up in the fall, separated and stored all winter in the basement in wet sawdust. In the spring they are planted in the garden. Cuttings are cut and rooted in the open ground during the summer.
Landing and care
Seedlings are moved to the open ground at the end of May, when the danger of return frosts finally disappears. All types of cosmea do not tolerate negative temperatures, and young plants are even more sensitive to cold snap. When planting, the height of the plants should reach 6 cm or more.
Cosmey better planted in an open, sunny area. Strong drafts and gusts of wind can break thin stems. The soil should be moderately nutritious and light, without stagnation of water. Optimal neutral or slightly acid reaction. On too fertile land, greenery will develop better, and flowering will decrease.
Shallow holes are prepared for planting with a distance depending on the height of the variety (about 30-35 cm). After planting, the plants are watered well. For high grades, you should immediately consider a garter or supports. Already now you can dig up stakes and pull the rods. To make the stems branch better, pinch them.
Cosmea does not hold moisture well, so you need to water it often and plentifully. On hot days, 1-2 times a week, 4-5 buckets of liquid are poured under the bush. The earth should be loosened regularly to break a dense crust after watering. You also need to remove weeds. In young plants, their growth slows significantly from their dominance.
Since the beginning of summer, 1-2 times a month cosmea is fertilized with flowering stimulants ("Bud"). The solution is not only poured into the soil at the roots, but also sprayed on top of the leaves. Mineral or organic top dressing is made several times during the season (Agricola, superphosphate, rotted manure). Such fertilizer is necessary only on depleted soils.
To bloom for a long time, it is recommended to immediately prune the wilted inflorescences. Then new buds will appear in their place. In the southern regions, in order to preserve cosmea for the winter, at the end of autumn, remove the ground part to the very ground or leave no more than 10-15 cm of shoots. They are covered with a thick layer of fallen leaves and spruce branches. In early spring, shelter should be removed so that the sprouts do not soprel. In more northern areas, the flower garden is dug up and all parts of the plant are removed in mid-autumn.
The advantage of cosmea is its strong immunity and resistance to parasites. In too dense plantings, snails and slugs sometimes settle. They are collected by hand, and also scattered on the ground as a barrier, ash and crushed eggshells.
Plant use
Openwork greens and delicate flowers look simply charming anywhere. Cosmey can be landed on the street along the fence, at the curb, in the flower garden. A subtle tart aroma spreads over bright baskets. It is framed by bushes and trees, and also planted between vegetable beds. In the latter case, the beauty also brings benefits. It turns the garden into a flower garden and at the same time with delicate leaves protects vegetables from the scorching sun. At the same time, enough light passes through the lace leaves.
On a flower bed, the plant is completely non-aggressive. Cosmey is combined with daisies, mallow, lilies, geraniums, asters, calendula, alissum, cloves, salvia or bells. When choosing a place and neighbors in the flowerbed, the color of the petals and the height of the plant are taken into account. It can also be planted in flowerpots and brought into the room for the winter.
