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

7 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 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). 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: 2014-07-21
Research By: TWC Staff

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