Cosmos has been Fleuroselect’s very successful plant of the year for 2016. With the year drawing to a close a favourite cosmos needed to be crowned.
Cosmos ‘Cupcakes White’ included in T&M’s Cosmos ‘Cupcakes’ seeds.
During August and September, over a thousand visitors at RHS Garden Wisley have been voting in a poll for their favourite garden Cosmos cultivar. The gorgeous Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Cupcakes White’ was chosen as the overall winner, with Cosmos ‘Cosmic Red’ coming second and Cosmos ‘Brightness Red’, third. Cosmos ‘Cupcakes White’ won out of a total of 85 cultivars that were shown to the visiting public during that period. The poll was part of the RHS annual People’s Choice Competition, and together with Fleuroselect they worked on the promotion and trialling of the cosmos genus.
RHS wanted to showcase the large number of varieties on offer for gardeners to grow, and with years of breeding and selection, cosmos has become an ideal plant for beginners and experts alike.
Cosmos ‘Brightness Mixed’ including ‘Brightness Red’
At the start of the year Thompson & Morgan introduced the, butter yellow, Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Xanthos’ to their large existing range. Clare Dixey Direct Marketing Manager has affirmed that the cosmos has been a wonderful success this year, with many gardeners stating they will definitely grow cosmos again next year, adding that they wanted to try a different genus or colour.
Cosmos ‘Xanthos’ and Cosmos ‘Cupcakes’
The year of the cosmos has been a fantastic success, bringing the flower to the forefront of gardeners growing lists. For 2017 Fleuroselect have chosen zinnia as their plant of the year.
What is your favourite cosmos? Do you agree with the visitors at RHS Wisley?
I have worked for Thompson & Morgan for nearly four years. In that time I have learnt lots about gardening, but consider myself very much a novice. I have started growing veg on a colleague’s allotment and also growing windowsill seeds such as Salad Leaves and Rocket. I love gaining more knowledge about horticulture and am lucky enough to work here.
Seedlings given to me, didn’t know what they were called , but so pleased with them. They are Cupcakes white. I will definitely try them next year, and also the “xanthos”
I’m emailing to thank you for the wonderful geranium ‘Rozanne’ I sent for last October. It has the most heavenly blue flowers with a white centre. Not only that, the trailing stems have flowered the whole of the summer; even now the beautiful blue flowers continue to delight in November!
Hi Jean,
That sounds gorgous, I wish I could see a picture. the Rozanne was voted flower of the century and we can see why. Thanks for sharing, regards, Wendie
I first fell in love with Cosmos about 6 years ago when I saw a display in a garden on The Isle of White, I had to ask what they were. I hAve grown them from seed every year since, starting with early ones to ones that are still flowering now, as long as they are dead headed they just keep coming. I love the occasional white one that appears, and hope to be able to buy the Cupcakes white as soon as available. Love the way they dance in the breeze! Amazing flowers.
Hi Pauline, thank you for your lovely comments. I would love to see pictures of your cosmos, they sound amazing. The white ones are something else. If you ever fancy writing about your cosmos for our blog. We love to hear how our customers and readers get on with their plants.
Take care, kind regards, Wendie
I fell in love with Cosmos about five years ago and ‘Cupcakes’ is now my very definite favourite
Hi Elaine,
Thank you for your comments. I agree they are wonderful plants and come in some gorgeous colours. The white is almost transluscent too. I can see why it won. Although the ‘Brightness Red’ does stand out for me. Kind regards, Wendie