Discussion
Cosmos Flowers
About Cosmos Flowers
There are numerous cosmos species in the cosmos plant genus, all related to sunflowers. They come in both annual and perennial varieties, and the color of the flowers varies with the species. Many cultivars have been produced, some of which are named.
Most cosmos species are native to Mexico, but some species occur as far south as Paraguay and as far north as Washington state's Olympic Peninsula. One species, C. bipinnatus (shown below), is spread across the eastern U.S. and Canada. Some cosmos varieties made it to South Africa in contaminated horse feed during the Boer War (late 19th century) and became well established there. Because several cosmos species are highly attractive, their use for ornamental purposes has led to their distribution worldwide.
One of the most popular ornamental cosmos is "tall cosmos" (shown below). That is the common name. I don't know the Latin equivalent. It grows from 1 to 4 feet tall, and its flowers span 2 to 4 inches. Its slender leaves are fern-like. Its blossoms are shades of pink, red, white, violet, and multicolored.
Suganuma Village in Japan not far from Kyōto is a UNESCO world heritage site. People still live there, but the area is mostly preserved for those wanting to learn more about traditional life in Japan. The steeply sloped roofs keep snow from piling up too heavily on top. The cosmos flowers in the foreground are relatively recent visitors.
Cosmos can be planted simply by strewing seeds. The best time to plant is after the last frost, and with care, they can continue producing blossoms all summer.
Another popular species is C. Sulphureus, shown below alongside a close-up of one of its blossoms.
Cosmos leaves vary with the species. The picture below is the leaf of C. Sulphureus.
Some cosmos blossoms are doubled.
Artwork
I have been unable to find any classical Japanese art featuring cosmos blossoms, but the ukiyo-e below by Katsushika Hokusai (1760 - 1849) may be similar to what he might have painted had cosmos ever been a subject of his. It is an ukiyo-e print from his Small Flowers series, painted around 1834. It is a kachōga, a birds and flowers print, titled Lesser Cuckoo and Azalea.
