Velouette Cosmos Plants

• Variety: Cosmos bipinnatus 'Velouette'
• Common name: Cosmos / Cosmea / Mexican Aster
• Type: Half-hardy annual
• Flower form: Single
• Colour: Deep crimson-mahogany with irregular white stripes
• Height: 60–100 cm (24–39 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
• RHS AGM: Yes
• 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

Velouette – The Cosmos That Always Sells Out

Velouette sells out every spring, and it has done for years. Velouette means "soft like velvet," and the flowers live up to the name. Each bloom opens a deep crimson-mahogany slashed with irregular white markings, the petal edges lightly crimped, the centres a rich golden yellow. No two flowers are quite alike. One may show fine white veins radiating from the centre of each petal; the next carries broad white splashes across half the surface. A bed of Velouette has an energy that solid-coloured cosmos can't match. It holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit, one of only a handful of cosmos varieties to do so.

All cosmos have lovely foliage: finely cut and bright green, like fennel fronds or dill, it makes a feathery base that the flowers bob above on wiry stems. Even before the first buds open, a young Velouette plant looks good in a border. At 60–100 cm it sits in the middle of the cosmos height range, typically reaching about 90 cm. Tall enough to hold its own in a mixed planting, short enough to avoid the flopping that plagues unsupported Sensation types.

How Velouette's Stripes Work

The white markings are unpredictable. Temperature and light influence the balance, so a single plant produces quite different-looking flowers over the course of the summer. Freshly opened blooms tend to show more white; as each flower matures over three or four days the mahogany deepens and the contrast sharpens. Ideally plant it where the late afternoon sun catches the petals from the side. Then the dark mahogany base glows and the white stripes become luminous.

For more uniform colour, Dazzler gives you rich, consistent crimson on a tall, strong plant. Sonata Carmine is brilliant carmine in a compact frame. Both are excellent, but neither has the individuality that makes Velouette so popular.

Planting Partners for Cosmos Velouette

Striped flowers need plain companions. Sensation Purity is the natural first choice: tall, clean white, and a strong enough presence not to be overshadowed by Velouette's dark drama. Plant 9–12 cosmos in a border drift, mixing the two up, and the white makes the stripes pop. Apricotta is a warmer option, with soft apricot tones that provide colour-temperature contrast rather than value contrast. The two together have an eye-catching richness.

At the front of the border, the bronze and copper foliage of heucheras like Palace Purple or Caramel picks up the mahogany in Velouette's petals and extends the colour scheme down to ground level.

Why Buy Your Cosmos Seedlings from Ashridge?

No contract growing, no outside suppliers. We buy in the best seed each year (cosmos does not come true from saved seed, so we source fresh rather than collecting our own). Every one of our cosmos plugs is hand-sown and grown right here at our Somerset nursery and then your plants are hardened off before dispatch. What you receive is a sturdy, garden-ready jumbo plug that has had the best start we can give it.

We dispatch by next-day courier from late April, timed so your seedlings arrive when conditions are right for planting out. If anything arrives damaged or fails to establish, our plant guarantee has you covered. We are a small, family-run nursery so the people who answer the phone are the same as the ones who grew the plants.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall does Cosmos Velouette grow?

Velouette reaches 60–100 cm (2–3 ft), typically around 90 cm. In rich soil it pushes taller and floppier; in lean, well-drained ground it stays more compact. Plants over about 60 cm benefit from support put in at planting time. Hazel twigs pushed into the soil when the plants are about 30 cm tall work well. For full staking advice, see our cosmos growing guide.

Is Cosmos Velouette good for cutting?

Velouette is an excellent cut flower with a vase life of over a week, which is long for a cosmos. Cut stems in the morning when they are fresh and firm, choosing blooms that have just fully opened. The striped flowers look striking in a vase on their own or mixed with a plain white cosmos like Sensation Purity.

What looks good planted with Cosmos Velouette?

Velouette's dark stripes look best against clean, plain-coloured companions. White cosmos like Sensation Purity or Sonata White provide the strongest contrast, while warm-toned varieties like Apricotta offer a subtler pairing. Outside the cosmos family, bronze-leaved heucheras at the front of the border echo the mahogany tones beautifully. Browse the full range in our cosmos collection.

Does Cosmos Velouette hold the RHS Award of Garden Merit?

Yes, Velouette holds a current RHS AGM which is only given to plants that perform reliably in UK garden conditions, are readily available, and do not need specialist care. For a half-hardy annual to earn one is notable, and it reflects Velouette's consistent flowering and easy temperament.

Can I grow Cosmos Velouette in a pot?

Yes, Velouette is not the most compact cosmos for containers, but its beauty makes it worth it. Use a pot of at least 10 litres and provide a stake or support as the plant grows. Feed fortnightly with half-strength tomato fertiliser once buds appear. For a smaller pot, the Sonata series or Xanthos are easier choices. For full container advice see our guide to growing cosmos in pots.