Not the plant you're looking for? Search over 300,000 plants
Annual Biennial

Cosmos bipinnatus 'Cupcakes Blush' (Cupcakes Series)
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

cosmea 'Cupcakes Blush'

'Cupcakes Blush' is a bushy annual, up to 90cm high, with very finely-divided green leaves and flowers from about midsummer to the first frost. The distinctive flowers, 10-12 cm across, have outer rays fused together around the yellow centre to form a bowl; the flowers are semi-double and the outer rays change from white to blush pink after a few days

Buy this plant
Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metres
Time to ultimate height
1 year
Ultimate spread
0.1–0.5 metres
Growing conditions
Loam
Chalk
Sand
Clay
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring
Summer Green Pink Green
Autumn Green Pink Green
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

West–facing or East–facing or South–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H3
Botanical details
Family
Asteraceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Genus

Cosmos can be annuals or perennials with simple or pinnately divided leaves and large, long-stalked daisy-like flowers in summer

Name status

Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Sow seed in spring and plant out from early summer, at 50cm spacing, in moist but well-drained soil in full sun

Propagation

See sowing seeds indoors

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Coastal
  • Patio and container plants
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Cut flowers
  • Flower borders and beds
Pruning

Deadhead to prolong the flowering season

Pests

May be affected by aphids

Diseases

May be affected by grey moulds

My Garden

Your free RHS gardening coach

Keep track of your plants with reminders & care tips – all to help you grow successfully

My plants
My calendar

My plants

My calendar

My ideas
Manage membership

My ideas

My advice

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.