Has anybody ever heard of digging up Cosmos roots and overwintering them as you would dahlias? I swear I heard this on the BBC but it went by *whizz* too fast for me to be sure. They were talking about chocolate cosmos at the time and I wondered if it was ONLY this variety. I know, I know...post this to the Questions forum. *LOL* But I wanted to see if any of us in the MidAtlantic (which has sorta like UK temps) ever did this. THANKS!

Hi Annie,
I have no experience but I imagine that you could potentially dig up any cosmos, based on what I read on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C...)

But I am curious as to why you'd want to do that since they are so easy to grow from seed?

They grow from seed like crazy and I think the roots would dry up if they were dug. they are not tuberous or bulb or anything like that where they store their own moisture like dahlias, elephant ears ect.

I found them super easy to grow from seed. Overwintering on the other hand I find to be a challenge!

Chocolate cosmos--that sounds nice!

PS--you should always feel free to post any question here!

Chocolate Cosmos (Cosmos atrosanguineus) is a perennial and, I think, different from the annuals many of us sow from seed, so perhaps that is why there was a discussion of overwintering?
Chocolate Cosmos (Cosmos atrosanguineus)
Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus)

thanks, Debra! Sounds like a good one to add to my list!

Oh, well, yes! And it says here: Chocolate Cosmos (Cosmos atrosanguineus) that it is grown from a bulb and may be overwintered inside in colder climates.

So, there ya go.

(Huh. I thought the orange one I am growing from seed, presumably the sulphureus, was the only perennial Cosmos. Guess not!)

There is more than one? Cool!

What I'm reading online is that Cosmos sulphureus is an annual that reseeds and so gives the appearance of being a perennial above zone 5. MoBOT calls it an annual.

It appears that the Chocolate Cosmos is a tuberous perennial in zones 7-9 that needs excellent drainage to survive outside in winter, so is often brought indoors.

Good information to have.

so is chocolate cosmos actually a cosmos or is that just a common name to call it? I too had the little orange flower that reseeds every year.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C...

well seems there are a few different kinds but still all types of cosmos.
sounds like the chocolate cosmos actually smells like chocolate ?!

That's what I have heard. It's been on my want list for awhile, but seems I either need the funds elsewhere or, when I have the funds, it is always out of stock.