The wide range of cosmos flowers are named for their proliferation of round flowers that seem to emulate the glory of the cosmos above. The variety called chocolate cosmos are so named for their scent and color. They are popular with those designing gothic gardens or those who just want a sweet addition to their garden.
Chocolate Cosmos Physical Characteristics
Chocolate cosmos are best known for their sweet scent. Some describe them as having a rich, hot chocolate scent, while others find them more vanilla. The other factor in their name is the color of their petals, ranging from dark chocolate to rich mahogany. At night they can even seem black, making them very popular in gothic gardens.
Cosmos come in a wide range of heights. Chocolate cosmos are one of the smaller sizes, reaching about 18 inches in height. The leaves themselves are unassuming, a short cluster of messy, dahlia-like leaves coming out of a tuber-like root structure. When in bloom, the flowers quickly overwhelm the plant in sweet scented, velvety petals.
Reproducing Chocolate Cosmos
Chocolate cosmos are infertile, all clones of a single plant found in Mexico. At best it doesn't breed true, at worst the seeds are not fertile. The only way to get more chocolate cosmos plants is to divide the root. This makes the chocolate cosmos a very rare plant and often difficult to find. However, once there is one in a garden, more can be divided from it every few years.
Tips for Growing Chocolate Cosmos
Chocolate cosmos developed in Mexico with lots of sun and well drained soil. Plant cosmos in a sunny location. They can grow in partial shade, but they won't flower as well. The same is true for watering patterns. Too much water will result in lots of leaves and not many flowers, as well as a risk of root rot. With cosmos it is better to under water than over water. If the flowers seem to be wilting a bit, then water, but otherwise stay light.
Don't bother much with fertilizing cosmos. A little all purpose fertilizer at the beginning and middle of the growing season is all the plant needs. Too many nutrients will cause cosmos to grow more leaves and skip flowering.
Wintering Chocolate Cosmos
While native to warm regions, chocolate cosmos can be grown in colder climate zones. The root will produce leaves and flowers as long as it is warm enough, then die back to the roots as it gets cold. If grown in the ground, provide a layer of mulch over the roots to protect them or dig them up and store them inside in individual pots. If in a container, just move the container inside for the winter. Keep the soil lightly moist in any pot.
While often a challenge to find, chocolate cosmos are a delight to own and require minimal maintenance. They look beautiful blooming in any part of the garden or in a container on the patio, and the sweet scent will tempt many for a long sniff.
Heather Coman - Heather Coman is a freelance writer and professional engineer. She has a bachelors in engineering and a minor in English from University ...
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