Cosmos sulphureus 'Lemonade' Seeds

A Gentle Splash of Sunshine

Cosmos sulphureus 'Lemonade' is a delightfully cheerful variety that brings a fresh burst of soft, warm colour to the summer garden. Unlike the feathery-leaved bipinnatus types, sulphureus cosmos has slightly broader, more deeply cut foliage and a naturally bushy, compact habit — making it ideal for borders, pots, and cottage garden edges. The blooms are a gorgeous soft lemon and white, semi-double and richly textured, glowing warmly in the sun from summer right through to autumn. A wonderful companion plant and an irresistible draw for bees and butterflies.

Why Gardeners Love It

• 🍋 Soft lemon and white semi-double blooms — warm, gentle colour that glows beautifully in sunlight
• 🌼 Bushy, compact habit — naturally tidy and well-branched, great for borders and containers
• ✂️ Good cut flower — cheerful and long-lasting in a vase, wonderful in informal summer arrangements
• 🐝 Outstanding for bees and butterflies — a magnet for pollinators throughout the season
• 🌱 Easy to grow from seed — fast-growing, heat-tolerant, and free-flowering in warm conditions

Growing Tips for New Zealand

Cosmos sulphureus loves warmth and performs best in full sun with well-drained soil. Sow seeds directly in spring once soil has warmed, or start indoors 3–4 weeks before transplanting. Sow on the surface of moist seed-raising mix and cover lightly. Space plants 25–30 cm apart. Unlike bipinnatus, sulphureus types prefer not to be over-watered — they thrive in drier conditions and are more heat-tolerant. Deadhead regularly to keep plants flowering prolifically from summer through to autumn. Performs beautifully throughout NZ in warm, sunny positions.

What's in the Packet

Each packet contains 10 Seeds of Cosmos sulphureus 'Lemonade'.

📄 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. 🌱😊