Cosmos bipinnatus 'Xsenia' Seeds

A Living Watercolour That Changes as It Blooms

Cosmos bipinnatus 'Xsenia' is one of the most captivating and unusual cosmos varieties you can grow. What makes it truly special is its extraordinary colour transformation — when the blooms first open, the petals are a warm mid-to-hot pink, each one delicately striped with soft apricot running up from the base, creating a glowing, almost luminous effect. As the flower matures, those apricot stripes gently fade and the petals shift to a softer pale pink, developing deeper, darker margins that give each bloom a beautifully defined quality. No two flowers look quite the same, and a single plant in full bloom will carry flowers at every stage of this remarkable colour journey. Held on long, graceful stems above feathery fine-cut foliage, Xsenia is a true conversation piece in the garden and an extraordinary cut flower.

Why Gardeners Love It

• 🎨 Extraordinary colour transformation — hot pink with soft apricot stripes when young, fading to pale pink with darker margins as it matures
• 🌸 Every bloom is unique — a single plant carries flowers at every stage of the colour journey simultaneously
• ✂️ Outstanding cut flower — long graceful stems and endlessly fascinating blooms that are a real talking point in any arrangement
• 🌿 Feathery fine-cut foliage — light and airy, adding movement and texture to borders and bouquets
• 🐝 Excellent for bees and butterflies — a magnet for pollinators throughout summer and autumn
• 🌱 Easy to grow from seed — fast-growing, free-flowering, and self-seeds gently in the right conditions

Growing Tips for New Zealand

Sow indoors 4–6 weeks before the last frost, or direct sow in spring once soil has warmed. Sow seeds on the surface of moist seed-raising mix and cover lightly. Transplant seedlings to 30–45 cm apart in a sunny, open position with well-drained soil. Cosmos thrives in poor to average soils — avoid overfeeding which encourages lush foliage at the expense of flowers. Deadhead regularly to extend flowering from summer right through to autumn. Performs beautifully throughout NZ in any warm, sunny position.

What's in the Packet

Each packet contains 5 seeds of Cosmos bipinnatus 'Xsenia'.

📄 Want the full growing guide? The Cosmos Propagation Guide — a detailed digital PDF covering sowing times, germination, spacing, and much more, is available as an instant download. 🌱😊

📄 Want to go even deeper? The CHBotanics Propagation from Seeds Manual — Professional Edition — a comprehensive digital PDF covering sowing times, germination, spacing, and much more across dozens of flower and vegetable species, is available as an instant download. 🌱😊