Cosmos bipinnatus 'Hummingbird Lilac'
cosmos
Delivery options
- Seed Packets (only) £2.95
- Position: Full sun
- Soil: Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: Average
- Flowering period: June to October
- Hardiness: Half-hardy annual
'Hummingbird Lilac' presents an array of charming, pale lilac tubular flowers with yellow centres on compact, bushy plants. This modest height variety, with its neat growth habit, offers a delightful display of unique blooms throughout most of the summer, making it perfect for borders and patio pots. Its attractive and unusual flowers not only adorn the garden but also entice bees and various pollinators, making it an ideal choice for the cut flower and wildlife enthusiast.
Grow on under glass and plant out once all risk of frost has passed. Pinch out the growing tips to encourage bushier growth, and feed at regular intervals with a high-potash fertiliser throughout summer. Plants may need supporting brushwood stems in exposed positions.
In early spring, sow seed shallowly in seed trays and keep under glass, transplanting them into individual pots when large enough to handle. Harden off before planting outside after the frosts. Alternatively, sow in-situ in mid- to late spring in a well-prepared bed and thin the seedlings out as they grow to allow approximately 30cm between each.