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Can anyone tell me what variety this magenta compact Cosmos might be?

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  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    It could be Cosmos bipinnatus Rubenza.

  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    edited January 2022
    Sonata and Apollo are shorter varieties and include magenta in their ranges.
    Rutland, England
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I've grown Rubenza and they are much taller and a darker red.
    I also grow Sonata dwarf mixed and I think as Ben says it's likely to be that or possibly Apollo.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    edited January 2022
    I missed the word "compact" in the title. Rubenza are not compact.





  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    edited January 2022
    I was thinking "Sonata Carmine", l grew some a few years ago and they looked similar. 
    https://www.chilternseeds.co.uk/item_398M_cosmos_bipinnatus_sonata_series_sonata_carmine

  • Super gardenerSuper gardener Posts: 106
    I think I’ve probably had Sonata mixed in previous years.  It’s the dark pink ones I’m wanting, as I don’t think the paler pinks go well with my Alchemilla Mollis.  Thank you for the Apollo suggestion and the link AnniD - does anyone know if the sonata Carmine is a dark pink or dark red? It looks different in the two photos shown on the site.
    Last Year I grew the Dazzler (free from GW magazine I think) which I knew would be a bit too tall, but most of them got up to about 6 ft!
  • Super gardenerSuper gardener Posts: 106

    The Rubenza also look exactly the right colour but as you say Fire they are not compact.
  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    edited January 2022
    This is Sonata mixed in the foreground. It looks much the same as your plant.


    Rutland, England
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    edited January 2022
    Super gardener said:
     does anyone know if the sonata Carmine is a dark pink or dark red?
    It's pink. There is only one real red cosmos have found.



    For shorter cosmos (not six footers) it's best to plant in very poor soil (as it grows natively). If you plant in rich soil, manured or similar, it will grow bigger and is likely to flower later. I personally like cosmos trees for late autumn flowering.
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    I would agree and say Carmine is more pink than red, but l've found it seems to depend on the eye of the beholder  :)
    I think Rubenza is a lovely colour and personally l've found it doesn't seem to grow too tall, but it's still around 18 inches to 2 feet. Different suppliers seem to quote different heights.
    It may just be me, but l feel that Cosmos seem to be more leaf than flower these days (even in poor soil) and flower later than they used to. Perhaps l have just been unlucky. 
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