Cosmos x bipinnatus Pinwheel Pink seeds - Garden Cosmos

Cosmos bipinnatus 'Pinwheel Pink' is an unusual dwarf variety, very floriferous, suited to small beds, borders and containers. Its light, airy habit, finely divided foliage, and large pink flowers with tubular petals give it a unique personality. Easy to grow in sun, this annual is suitable for low-water gardens and naturalistic schemes, while also providing food for many pollinators. Fleuroselect Approved Novelty 2025 Award Winner.

Belonging to the Asteraceae family, Cosmos bipinnatus is native to Mexico where it grows in open areas and disturbed ground; this species has become widely naturalised in warm temperate climates.
The cultivar 'Pinwheel Pink' was selected by Takii Europe and trialed by Fleuroselect; it is characterised by a compact stature (approximately 45 cm in height with a 55 cm spread), a very high proportion of tubular "petals" or ligules, excellent floriferousness, and flowers about 8 cm in diameter of a fresh pink colour. The plant forms a small, bushy clump, well-branched from the base. The leaves, deeply divided into thread-like segments, create a light, medium green foliage. The inflorescence is a solitary head borne on a slender peduncle; the central disc formed of tiny, fertile, yellow tubular florets is surrounded by ligulate florets, here mostly in narrow tubes, responsible for the "small coloured pinwheel" effect. The flowering period, depending on the sowing date, spans from July to September. It continues until the first frosts if spent flowers are removed.

Plant the 'Pinwheel Pink' variety at the edge of a border, in a flowering vegetable garden or in a deep planter, in groups of 5 to 7 to form a large, airy cushion. Pair it with sun-loving annuals for well-drained soils: Cosmos 'Sonata White', Zinnia 'Profusion Double Hot Cherry', Love-in-a-mist 'Miss Jekyll Blue' for an airy feel, or Calendula officinalis 'Ball's Orange' for a warm contrast. In open ground, space your young plants 30–40 cm apart, apply a light mulch and water sparingly but regularly for the first three weeks; afterwards, light pruning of the spent stems will encourage further flowering until the first frosts.

Spanish missionaries are said to have spread cosmos from Mexico to Europe in the late 18th century, captivated by the "order" of their corollas, which inspired the name of the genus.