Variety field guide
What to expect from Dwarf Red Cosmos
Dwarf Red Sulphur cosmos seeds produce red bloom on 19–24 in upright/erect plants. Annual growth and Summer/Fall bloom make it useful for meadow-style color, cut flowers, low-input sunny beds, and pollinator use.
Read the complete product descriptionTraits, flavor, garden use, variety notes, and the full catalog record
Dwarf Red Sulphur cosmos seeds produce red bloom on 19–24 in upright/erect plants. Annual growth and Summer/Fall bloom make it useful for meadow-style color, cut flowers, low-input sunny beds, and pollinator use.
About Dwarf Red
Dwarf Red is an annual sulphur cosmos with red color, 19–24 in mature height or spread, and an upright/erect habit. Harvest form or size: Flower or head form characteristic of Dwarf Red; mature plant 19–24 in. Botanically it is Cosmos sulphureus. Maturity or first bloom: 60-69 Days; germination: 7-14 Days at 65–80 °F. Best for meadow-style color, cut flowers, low-input sunny beds, and pollinator use. Grown for ornamental or habitat use rather than as a food crop.
History and provenance
Garden cosmos and sulphur cosmos come from Mexico and neighboring parts of the Americas. They became widely grown annual flowers because direct-sown plants flower freely in sun and modest soil. Cultivar names distinguish color, stature, and petal form, but available evidence does not assign a breeder or release date where the public record is incomplete. A complete public breeder or release record for the named Dwarf Red strain has not been located. The cultivar name is retained, but no person, community, date, or place of origin is assigned without reliable documentation. Dwarf Red Sulphur Cosmos seeds grow into compact, easy-care annual flowers with ferny foliage and vivid blooms ranging from deep orange-red to scarlet. These cheerful flowers thrive in full sun, tolerate dry to moderate conditions once established, and bring bright summer-to-fall color without demanding rich soil or heavy maintenance. Plant Dwarf Red Sulphur Cosmos seeds for a reliable burst of warm red-orange color that attracts bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators. The dwarf habit makes this Sulphur Cosmos especially useful near paths, in front-of-border plantings, and in mixed annual displays where long bloom, pollinator value, and manageable height matter.
Growing facts
| Scientific name | Cosmos sulphureus |
|---|---|
| Life cycle | Annual |
| Maturity / first bloom | 60-69 Days |
| Germination | 7-14 Days at 65–80 °F |
| Seed depth | 1/4 in |
| Plant height / spread | 19–24 in |
| Growth habit | Upright/Erect |
| Spacing | 12 in between plants; 18 in between rows |
| Sunlight | Full sun |
| Soil | Loamy; pH 6.0–6.5 |
| Water | Drought tolerant |
| Support | No-Support |
Starting Dwarf Red from seed
How to grow Dwarf Red Sulphur cosmos
Botanical identity: Cosmos sulphureus. Life cycle: Annual.
Sow 1/4 in and use a seed-zone temperature near 65–80 °F. Expected emergence: 7-14 Days. Use clean seed-starting conditions, the listed depth and temperature, and steady moisture without saturation.
Plant during Late Spring. Space plants 12 in apart with 18 in between rows or planting bands.
Provide Full sun, drought tolerant water, and loamy near pH 6.0–6.5. Support: No-Support.
Garden performance and care
For a longer display of Dwarf Red, remove spent blooms unless seed is being saved. Give the plant its listed spacing, cut flowers with clean tools, and leave selected heads to mature fully for seed. Expected emergence is 7-14 Days; the listed maturity or bloom timing is 60-69 Days.
Harvest, bloom, and uses
Dwarf Red is suited to meadow-style color, cut flowers, low-input sunny beds, and pollinator use. Its red flowers and 19–24 in stature help determine whether it belongs in a border, cutting row, container, meadow edge, or restoration-style planting. Grown for ornamental or habitat use rather than as a food crop.
Saving seed
Save seed from several healthy, true-to-type Dwarf Red plants identified before harvest. Confirm the pollination system of Cosmos sulphureus, separate compatible varieties that flower together, and remove clear off-types before they shed pollen or seed. Allow fruit, pods, ears, or seed heads to reach full biological maturity, then clean and dry the seed completely. Label the lot with variety, source, year, isolation method, number of seed plants, and any selection notes; store it cool, dark, and dry and test germination before an important planting.
Common problems
Common concerns: damping-off from saturated media; poor emergence from wrong temperature or depth; leggy seedlings from weak light; crowding and weak airflow; lodging in wind or rain; feeding damage from slugs, caterpillars, beetles, or mammals; foliar disease under prolonged leaf wetness. Management: use clean media, the sowing depth and temperature, strong light, appropriate thinning, and morning irrigation at soil level. Match support to plant height before wind becomes a problem. Inspect regularly and use the least disruptive control appropriate to the pest, plant, and pollinator setting. Remove diseased debris and rotate annual flower beds where recurring disease is severe.
Frequently asked questions
When is Dwarf Red ready?
60-69 Days from sowing to the primary bloom or market stage used for the listed maturity range
How long does germination take?
Expect 7-14 Days near 65–80 °F; actual emergence changes with moisture, seed condition, and soil temperature.
How large does it grow?
About 19–24 in with an upright/erect habit. Support: No-Support.
Can it grow in a container?
Well suited to containers when drainage, spacing, light, and moisture are maintained
How is it used?
Primary role: Meadow-style color, cut flowers, low-input sunny beds, and pollinator use. Grown for ornamental or habitat use rather than as a food crop.
Can I save seed?
Yes where the crop biology allows, but keep compatible varieties isolated, use several healthy plants, wait for full seed maturity, dry thoroughly, and label the lot.
Minimum Seed Count:30 seeds
