Native Plants

Plant Database

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Loughmiller, Campbell and Lynn

Cosmos parviflorus

Cosmos parviflorus (Jacq.) Pers.

Southwestern Cosmos, Southwest Cosmos

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonym(s): Coreopsis parviflora

USDA Symbol: COPA12

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

Southwest cosmos grows 2-3 feet tall and is branched several times in the upper half, with a single flower head, about 1 1/4 inches across, at the end of each slender, bare stem. It has 8 pale-orchid ray flowers, with a yellow center. It is an attractive flower, suitable for cultivation, and seeds are commercially available. Leaves are threadlike, divided 2 or 3 times. It is not abundant, as it is grazed by livestock.

From the Image Gallery

59 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Annual
Habit: Herb
Size Notes: Up to about 3 feet tall.
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Pink , Violet
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct

Distribution

USA: AZ , CO , MA , MD , ME , MO , NM , RI , TX

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	FAC		FACU		FAC	FAC		FACU	FACU	FACU

This information is derived from: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (2023). 2022 National Wetland Plant List, version 3.6. U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, MS. https://wetland-plants.usace.army.mil/. Click here for map of regions.

Wildflower Center Seed Bank

LBJWC-PM-10 Collected 2006-09-25 in Jeff Davis County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

1 collection(s) available in the Wildflower Center Seed Bank

Bibliography

Bibref 248 - Texas Wildflowers: A Field Guide (1984) Loughmiller, C. & L. Loughmiller

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Additional resources

USDA: Find Cosmos parviflorus in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Cosmos parviflorus in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Cosmos parviflorus

Metadata

Record Modified: 0000-00-00
Research By: TWC Staff

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