Vigorous plants flower over a long season, creating rich color in the garden and a vibrant food source for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Plant architecture is tall but open and airy, so plants are less prone to lodging or falling over than Cosmos bipinnate types. Excellent choice for color in summer gardens. 1 1/2–2" wide, double and semidouble blooms in shades of orange and gold. Sometimes used as cut flowers, though they do not last long in the vase, dropping petals after 5 days. Flowers are also used to create natural dyes for fiber and fabrics. Plants readily self-seed. Also known commonly as Dyer's cosmos and sulfur cosmos. Native to the Americas and Mexico.