I’m losing more sunlight each year in my backyard as the oaks and hickories that surround our yard continue to mature, so my days are numbered when it comes to growing full sun plants. But if you have space in a nice sunny flowerbed, Sonata cosmos are a great way to fill it.
Sonata series cosmos grow 24 inches tall. And the seeds can be planted directly in the garden in late spring and they’ll grow fast enough to bloom for several months during the summer. I start some plants from seed each year about 5 weeks before our last frost date to give them a head start. You can also find them for sale at most garden centers in the spring.
There are still some seed companies offering individual colors for sale (Pink Blush is my favorite), but they also come in a mix. The colors are white and shades of pink and red, so they also look great in a carefree cottage garden.
Sonata cosmos prefer growing in full sun and will even tolerate poor soil conditions. The plants will tolerate partial-sun, but you may have to stake them to prevent flopping. To keep the blooms coming all summer long, remove the spent blossoms.
Insects won’t bother the plants, but be warned—rabbits may nibble on them.