Cosmos are annual plants of the Asteraceae family with daisy-like flowers that sit atop long, slender stems with lacy foliage. Their colors and numbers of petals vary depending on the species, though most varieties have eight broad, usually notched or serrated petals. Their flowerheads may be bowl– or open cup–shaped. The leaves are simple, pinnate, or bipinnate, and arranged in opposite pairs.
Besides Cosmos bipinnatus, the garden cosmos or cosmea, other commonly depicted species are C. sulphureus (yellow/sulfur cosmos) and C. atrosanguineus (chocolate cosmos). Sulfur cosmos can be distinguished by their bright yellow, orange, or pale red colors; they also have a protruding center called a ray floret. And chocolate cosmos can be distinguished by their dark red to dark brown colors and wide protruding ray florets, somewhat reminiscent of zinnias.
