Daydream Cosmos Plants

• Variety: Cosmos bipinnatus 'Daydream'
• Common name: Cosmos / Cosmea / Mexican Aster
• Type: Half-hardy annual
• Flower form: Single
• Colour: Palest pink to white with a dark rosy-pink throat
• Height: 75–120 cm (30–48 in)
• Flowering period: June–October
• Position: Full sun (minimum 6 hours)
• Soil: Well-drained, ordinary to poor fertility
• Spacing: 30 cm (12 in)
• Good for cutting: Yes – excellent
• Container suitable: Yes, with support in a large pot
• Sold as: Jumbo plug seedlings, hand-sown by us
• Plant outdoors: After last frost (mid-May in most areas)
• Delivered: Late April to May by next-day courier. Collection from Castle Cary also available

Daydream – A Cosmos That Never Stops Flowering

Daydream is one of our most popular cosmos and one of the most prolific. The colour does it. Each flower opens with a dark rosy-pink throat that fades out through the palest blush to near-white at the petal tips, soft and slightly dreamy. In full sun the colour is almost washed out; in shade or in the evening the pink comes forward. It is part of the Sensation series, the group of cultivars introduced in 1930 that transformed the flower's reputation with their large blooms and vivid colours. Most of the Cosmos bipinnatus varieties grown in UK gardens today descend from that original Sensation breeding. Daydream inherits the group's generous habit, producing flowers from June until the first frosts at a rate that borders on ridiculous.

At 75–120 cm, Daydream is a mid-to-tall variety that benefits from support. Professional flower growers rate it as the most heat-tolerant cosmos, which in a British summer means it copes better than most with dry spells in July and August without sulking. In a border it makes a lovely mid-height filler, the soft-coloured blooms appearing quietly and endlessly while you worry about something else. Our next-door neighbour uses Daydream in containers following on behind tulips and alliums, underplanted with silver variegated ivy. The effect is smashing. For compact cosmos better suited to pots, see our guide to growing cosmos in pots.

Partners for Cosmos Daydream

Daydream's soft colouring makes it a natural partner for bolder varieties. Double Click Cranberries (deep cranberry-red, double flowers) is an excellent contrast, the dark berry tones making Daydream's paleness glow. Dazzler is another strong partner, rich consistent crimson against the dreamy pink. In a mixed border drift of 9–12 plants the combination gives you depth without complexity.

In a cutting garden, Daydream earns its place alongside sweet peas like Jilly or Mollie Rilstone, picking up the flowering as the sweet peas wind down in late summer. The pastel tones blend beautifully in mixed bunches, and the long stems suit the same tall buckets and jugs. If you have a row of sweet peas, plant a row of Daydream behind or beside them and you have cut flowers from June to October with very little effort.

Why Grow Ashridge Cosmos?

We hand-sow every cosmos plug ourselves at our nursery in Somerset and grow them on in our own polytunnels. No contract growing, no outside suppliers. We source the best seed fresh each year because cosmos does not come true from saved seed. Every plant is hardened off before it leaves us.

Your seedlings arrive by next-day courier from late April, when conditions are right for planting out. If anything arrives damaged or fails to establish, our plant guarantee has you covered. Ring us with a question and you will speak to the team in Somerset who grew the plants.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall does Cosmos Daydream grow?

Daydream reaches 75–120 cm (2.5–4 ft) depending on soil and conditions. In lean, well-drained ground it stays at the shorter end; in richer soil it pushes taller and may need sturdier support. Pea sticks or horizontal netting at 30–40 cm work well. For full growing advice, see our cosmos growing guide.

Is Cosmos Daydream good for cutting?

Daydream is one of the best cosmos for cutting, with long stems and a vase life of 7–10 days. Cut in the morning when blooms have just fully opened. The soft pink tones work well in mixed arrangements and the plant produces more flowers the more you cut. A patch of a dozen plants will keep you in flowers all summer.

What looks good planted with Cosmos Daydream?

Daydream's pale tones pair well with dark or saturated companions. Double Click Cranberries (deep berry doubles) and Dazzler (rich crimson) both make Daydream's colour sing. In a cutting garden, sweet peas are natural partners, picking up where the cosmos takes over in late summer. Browse the full range in our cosmos collection.

Does Cosmos Daydream need staking?

At this height, yes. Put support in at planting time, before the stems are tall enough to be damaged. Hazel twigs pushed in around young plants are the simplest option. For a larger group, stretch horizontal netting across the bed at 30–40 cm and let the stems grow through it. The netting disappears behind the foliage within a few weeks.

Will my cosmos come back next year?

No. Daydream, like all garden cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus), is a half-hardy annual. The plant will die after the first hard frost. In mild, sheltered gardens cosmos sometimes self-seeds, but the seedlings will be variable and unlikely to match the parent variety. For a reliable display of a named variety like Daydream, start fresh with new plants each spring.