Yellow cosmos, Sulfur cosmos
Cosmos sulphureus
Family: Asteraceae
What it is like
A perennial herb. It grows to 1 m high and spreads to 50 cm across. The stem is erect, slender and very delicate. The leaves are finely divided 2 or 3 times, with fine narrow lobes. The flowers are yellow. They are in open, bowl-shaped flower heads, and these are borne in clusters. These are 3.5-6 cm across.
There are about 25 Cosmos species.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows best on light well-drained soil. It needs an open sunny position. It is drought and frost resistant. It needs a temperature above 5°C to grow. It Vietnam it grows up to 1,200 m above sea level. In Argentina it grows below 500 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 7-11.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Cambodia, Central America, Central Asia, China, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Eswatini, Fiji, Haiti, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Korea, Marquesas, Mexico (country/location of origin), Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niue, North America, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Rotuma, SE Asia, Slovenia, Southern Africa, South America, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Thailand, USA, Vietnam, West Indies
How it is used for food
The leaves are eaten raw or cooked. They are used as a spice or flavouring. They are rolled in rice paper with meat, fish or other vegetables.
It is not known if they are eaten in Papua New Guinea. The leaves are sold in markets in Indonesia. It is a cultivated food plant.
Edible parts
Leaves, spice, flowers
How it is grown
It is grown by seeds sown directly into the site where they are to grow.
Its other names
Local names
Kembang goyang, Orange cosmos, Paw-me-tar, Putali phul, Randa meedang, Rumena kozmeja, Sein-chai-kadipa, Sva'y anlu'ek
Synonyms
Bidens artemisiifolia (Jacq.) Kuntze [Illegitimate]; Bidens sulphurea (Cav.) Sch. Bip.; Coreopsis artemisiifolia Jacq.; Cosmea sulphurea Willd.; Cosmos artemisiifolius (Jacq.) M. R. Almeida; Cosmos aurantiacus Klatt;