FlowersCosmos
Cosmos bipinnatus
Difficulty: EasyGrows in pots
A tall, easy annual with daisy-like flowers for borders and cutting. Sow it in warm soil after the last frost, in full sun, and skip the fertilizer.
How to grow cosmos
Side by side
Compare seeds
Pick two or three seeds to see how they grow, side by side: sprouting, spacing, sun, water, frost and pet safety in one table.
Comparing Cosmos vs. African Marigold vs. Ageratum
The comparison
Cosmos vs. African Marigold vs. Ageratum
| Fact | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | Easy | Easy | Easy |
| Life cycle | Annual | Annual | Annual |
| Germination time | 7–21 days | 4–7 days | 7–21 days |
| Germination temperature | Not yet verified | 24–27 °C75–81 °F | 24–27 °C75–81 °F |
| Sowing depth | 3 mm⅛ in | 6 mm¼ in | On the surface |
| Sun | Full sun | Full sun, partial shade | Full sun, partial shade |
| Water | Not yet verified | Moderate | Moderate |
| Containers | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Frost tolerance | Not yet verified | Tender (no frost) | Tender (no frost) |
| Soil pH | Not yet verified | pH 6.0–7.0 | Not yet verified |
| Links |
Up close
Meet the seeds
What each one is, in a few lines, with the full growing guide one click away.
- Flowers
- Flowers
African Marigold
Tagetes erecta
Difficulty: EasyGrows in potsAfrican marigold is a tender annual grown from seed in full sun, with fragrant leaves and showy flowers that attract butterflies. It also grows well in containers.
How to grow african marigold - Flowers
Ageratum
Ageratum houstonianum
Difficulty: EasyGrows in potsAgeratum is a frost-tender annual with fluffy blue, pink or white flower clusters that is usually started from seed indoors about 8 to 10 weeks before the last spring frost.
How to grow ageratum
Keep comparing
Try another matchup
Add a third seed, or swap one for a close relative from the same category.
Cosmos vs. African DaisyCosmos against another flower- African Marigold vs. African DaisyAfrican Marigold against another flower
- Ageratum vs. African DaisyAgeratum against another flower
Cosmos vs. Alpine AsterCosmos against another flower- African Marigold vs. Alpine AsterAfrican Marigold against another flower
- Ageratum vs. Alpine AsterAgeratum against another flower
The table, row by row
How to read a comparison
Every row is a fact from each seed's own profile, lined up so the differences stand out.
Sprouting
Germination time and temperature
How many days the seeds take to sprout, and the temperature range they sprout in.
Sowing
Sowing depth and spacing
How deep to sow each seed and how far apart the plants should grow. “On the surface” means the seed isn't covered.
Timing
Days to maturity and life cycle
How long until the plant is ready, counted from sowing or from transplanting (each value says which). Annuals live one year, biennials two, perennials longer.
Light and water
Sun and water
Full sun means 6 or more hours of direct sun a day, partial shade a few hours. Water needs are rated low, moderate or high.
Space and weather
Containers, frost tolerance and soil pH
Whether it grows in a pot, with the smallest pot when it's known. Frost tolerance runs from tender (no frost) to hardy. Soil pH 7 is neutral.
Pets
Toxicity to cats and dogs
Whether the plant is toxic to cats and dogs.
Quick wins
Fastest to sprout
Days from sowing until the first shoots appear, in good conditions.
Pet friendly
Safe around cats and dogs
Listed as non-toxic to both cats and dogs. Each seed's page has the details.
Not safe for pets: borage, buckwheat, caraway, carnation and 14 more.
Comparing
Questions about comparing
- How many seeds can I compare?
- Two or three at a time. Pick them in the boxes at the top, or start from any seed's page with “Compare with another seed”.
- Can I share a comparison?
- Yes. Every comparison has its own address, like /compare-seeds/?seeds=cosmos,african-marigold, so you can copy the link from your browser and send it.
- Where do the facts come from?
- From each seed's profile. Every fact there is researched and reviewed by our editors before it goes live.
- Can I see metric or imperial units?
- Both. The table picks the units that match your browser's language, and the switch above it changes them. Your choice is remembered in this browser.
- Do I need an account?
- No. Comparing seeds, like every page on SeedBattle, is free and needs no account.
Found your seed?
Each seed's page explains how to grow it from seed, with facts researched and reviewed by our editors.
