Cosmos Bipinnatus Apricot Lemonade

This stunning cosmos produces unusual bicolour flowers that shift in tone as they mature, starting as soft apricot with hints of pink-lavender and fading to a pale creamy yellow with a distinctive central ring. This half-hardy annual forms upright, bushy plants up to 60cm (2ft) tall, with fine, ferny foliage and free-flowering branching stems. It blooms reliably from mid-summer into autumn, especially when grown in full sun and well-drained soil.

Deadheading encourages repeat flowering and helps maintain a tidy appearance. Cosmos bipinnatus 'Apricot Lemonade' also makes a great cut flower, adding a soft wash of colour to summer arrangements. Easy to grow and attractive to pollinators, it performs well in borders, containers or as part of a wildflower-style planting scheme.