Bishy Barnabees Cottage Garden Ltd
Cosmos Apricotta
Cosmos Apricotta
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Cosmos 'Apricotta' Seeds
'Apricotta' took the gardening world by storm when it was released, offering a completely new colour break in Cosmos. It produces large, open flowers in a dreamy blend of soft apricot, peach, and cantaloupe melon, with a subtle mauve-pink ring around the centre.
This is a sophisticated, "designer" flower that looks like it belongs in a high-end wedding bouquet. Despite its delicate, vintage appearance, it is a robust, tall grower (up to 1.2m) that pumps out blooms relentlessly from mid-summer until the frost. It is an absolute must-have for anyone growing cut flowers.
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🌿 Understanding the Plant
Cosmos is a Half-Hardy Annual.
It originates from Mexico and thrives in sunshine. 'Apricotta' is a modern variety bred for unique colour and flower power.
The "Starvation" Rule: This is the golden rule for all Cosmos. **Do not feed them!** If you plant them in rich, manured soil or give them fertiliser, they will grow into giant green monsters with huge leaves but zero flowers. They flower best in poor, dry, "hungry" soil.
🌱 Growing Guide: How to Sow and Grow
Cosmos is fast, reliable, and perfect for beginners.
Germination:
Sow indoors from March to April, or directly outdoors in May once the frost has passed. Sow seeds 5mm deep. They germinate quickly (7-14 days) at 20°C.
Where to Sow:
They need **full sun**. They thrive in poor, sandy, or stony soil. Avoid heavy clay if possible, or add grit to improve drainage.
Care While Growing:
Pinch: When seedlings are 20cm tall, pinch out the top growing tip. This encourages the plant to branch out, creating a sturdy bush rather than a single spindly stem.
Deadhead: Snip off dead flowers weekly to keep the show going until November.
📋 Plant Specifications
| Latin Name | Cosmos bipinnatus |
| Common Name | Cosmos 'Apricotta' |
| Hardiness | H2 (Half-Hardy - Needs Frost Protection) |
| Light Required | Full Sun ☀️ |
| Height | ↕️ 90cm - 120cm (Tall) |
| Spread | ↔️ 50cm |
| Spacing | 🌱 45cm apart |
| Great for | ✂️ Cut Flowers 🍑 Peach/Pastel Themes 🐝 Bees & Butterflies 🏆 Award Winner |
| Seed Count | Approx. 30 seeds per packet |
🤝 Perfect Garden Companions
The warm apricot tones of 'Apricotta' look stunning with soft blues or deep purples:
- 💜 Salvia viridis 'Blue': The Contrast. The deep indigo-blue bracts of the Salvia create a striking contrast with the soft peach of the Cosmos. It stops the pastel scheme from looking too washed out.
- ☁️ Ammi Majus (Queen Anne's Lace): The Bridal Mix. Combining the lacy white heads of Ammi with the apricot blooms of Cosmos creates the ultimate romantic, meadow-style bouquet.
📅 Sowing & Flowering Calendar
Sow indoors in spring. Plant out in June. Flowers July to November.
| Month | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow Indoors | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | |||||||||
| Sow Outdoors | 🟢 | 🟢 | ||||||||||
| Flowers | 🌸 | 🌸 | 🌸 | 🌸 |
🏆 Officially Recognised Excellence
'Apricotta' is a Fleuroselect Novelty Winner, which means it has been tested by professionals and proven to be unique, stable, and high-performing in the garden.
