Apricot Lemonade Cosmos

Cosmos bipinnatus 'Apricot Lemonade' (Cosmos bipinnatus 'Apricot Lemonade') is a captivating, subtly complex cosmos that sets itself apart from the familiar bold cosmos palette through a uniquely nuanced range of soft, layered colors — producing large, 3–4 inch blooms in a sophisticated blend of primrose yellow, warm apricot, and soft rose, with many flowers displaying delicate color rings or contrasting pink reverses that add an additional dimension of botanical intricacy and visual interest to each individual bloom. The overall color impression is one of warm, honeyed softness — a palette that brings a quietly refined, romantic character to the light, airy, naturalistic floral display that makes cosmos one of the most beloved and reliably rewarding warm-season annuals available for cottage and cutting gardens alike. The characteristic finely cut, bright green ferny foliage provides delicate textural contrast that frames the soft, complex blooms with authentic wildflower grace.

This professional-grade 4" plant arrives with a healthy, well-established root system cultivated through professional horticultural practices — ready to establish and grow quickly toward its generous warm-season bloom display. 'Apricot Lemonade' excels in cottage gardens, cutting gardens, mixed annual borders, and naturalistic plantings where its soft, layered, multi-toned blooms create a warm, honeyed color palette of gentle sophistication. It pairs beautifully with soft lavenders, warm whites, pale peaches, and silver companions for dreamy, romantically soft border compositions of naturalistic elegance and genuine seasonal charm.

• Sophisticated Multi-Toned Primrose, Apricot & Rose Palette: Large, 3–4 inch blooms in a subtly layered blend of primrose yellow, warm apricot, and soft rose — many with delicate color rings or pink reverses — deliver a uniquely nuanced, warm, honeyed color palette of gentle sophistication that sets 'Apricot Lemonade' apart from simpler, single-toned cosmos selections.
• Delicate Ringed & Bicolor Bloom Variation: The natural variation between individual blooms — with some displaying subtle color rings and others showing contrasting pink reverses — adds a layer of botanical intricacy and spontaneous visual interest to the planting that rewards closer appreciation throughout the bloom season.
• Prolific Light, Airy Naturalistic Flower Display: Produces an abundant, continuous succession of large, softly colored blooms on tall, freely branching stems throughout summer and into fall — delivering the classic cosmos combination of prolific flowering, airy naturalistic grace, and minimal maintenance across the full warm season.
• Exceptional Cut Flower: The large, softly colored blooms with their delicate layered tones make beautiful, long-lasting cut flowers for fresh arrangements — 'Apricot Lemonade' brings a warm, romantic, honeyed palette to indoor floral displays with genuine seasonal character and sophisticated color nuance.
• Heat Tolerant & Low Maintenance: Thrives in the heat of summer with minimal care — cosmos performs at its most prolific in lean, well-drained soil with minimal fertilization, rewarding neglect with an even more generous floral display throughout the warm growing season.

These 4" healthy live plants thrive in full sun (6+ hours daily) with well-drained, lean to average soil; avoid rich, fertile conditions that promote excessive leafy growth at the expense of prolific flowering — cosmos genuinely thrives in lean soil. Water moderately — keep soil evenly moist during establishment then water sparingly. Grow as a warm-season annual; frost-sensitive. Transplant outdoors after the last frost date. Mature height: 24–36 inches; spread: 12–18 inches. Bloom time: summer through first frost. Deadhead or allow seed heads to form for self-seeding naturalization.