Pollinator plant

Yellow Cosmos

Cosmos sulphureus

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Common names

43 names · 22 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Cosmos[4]
  • Klondike Cosmos[1]
  • Orange Cosmos[1]
+3 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (21)
Dutch
  • Cosmea
French
Arabic
  • قسموس اصفر[3]
  • قسموس كبريتي[3]
Chinese (Simplified)
+3 more namesShow fewer names
  • 黄波斯菊[3]
  • 黄秋英[3]
  • 黄花波斯菊[3]
Chinese (Traditional)
Cuicateco
Czech
  • krásenka sírožlutá[3]
Danish
  • Svovlgul kosmos[3]
Finnish
  • keltakosmos[3]
  • keltakosmoskukka[3]
Indonesian
Japanese
  • キバナコスモス[3]
Korean
  • 노랑코스모스[3]
Nahuatl
  • axalxóchitl[3]
  • xōchipalli[3]
Polish
  • Kosmos siarkowy[3]
  • Kosmos żółty[3]
  • Onętek siarkowy[3]
Portuguese
Russian
  • Космея серно-желтая[3]
  • Космея серно-жёлтая[3]
Slovak
  • krasuľka sírová[3]
Spanish
Swedish
  • gullskära[3]
Thai
  • ดาวกระจายเหลือง[3]
Turkish
  • Sülfür Kozmos[3]
Sources & name notes (4)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Cosmos sulphureus — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Yellow Cosmos — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(4); heading: Common Name(s):; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • Klondike Cosmos — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • Orange Cosmos — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • Sulphur Cosmos — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Cosmos sulphureus.
[2] Cosmos sulphureus — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Yellow Cosmos — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • Sulfur Cosmos — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • cinco llagas — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • Mirasol amarillo — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • Cosmos de Klondike — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • Cosmos sulfureux — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • Cosmos-amarelo — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
[3] Cosmos sulphureus — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Yellow Cosmos — results[19].names[3]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • Sulfur Cosmos — results[19].names[14]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • cinco llagas — results[19].names[5]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • Mirasol amarillo — results[19].names[1]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • Cosmos de Klondike — results[19].names[12]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • Cosmos sulfureux — results[19].names[11]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • Cosmos-amarelo — results[19].names[9]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • gullskära — results[19].names[2]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • axalxóchitl — results[19].names[4]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • shimul — results[19].names[6]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • Kenikir — results[19].names[7]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • xōchipalli — results[19].names[8]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • キバナコスモス — results[19].names[10]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • 黃波斯菊 — results[19].names[13]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • krásenka sírožlutá — results[19].names[15]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • 黄花波斯菊 — results[19].names[16]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • 硫华菊 — results[19].names[17]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • 黄秋英 — results[19].names[18]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • 黄波斯菊 — results[19].names[19]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • 硫磺菊 — results[19].names[20]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • 硫黄菊 — results[19].names[21]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • Космея серно-жёлтая — results[19].names[22]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • Космея серно-желтая — results[19].names[23]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • 노랑코스모스 — results[19].names[24]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • قسموس كبريتي — results[19].names[25]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • قسموس اصفر — results[19].names[26]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • Svovlgul kosmos — results[19].names[27]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • ดาวกระจายเหลือง — results[19].names[28]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • Kosmos siarkowy — results[19].names[29]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • Kosmos żółty — results[19].names[30]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • Onętek siarkowy — results[19].names[31]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • keltakosmos — results[19].names[32]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • keltakosmoskukka — results[19].names[33]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • 硫華菊 — results[19].names[34]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • 黄秋英 — results[19].names[35]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • krasuľka sírová — results[19].names[36]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
  • Sülfür Kozmos — results[19].names[37]; taxon id 48651; Cosmos sulphureus.
[4] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Cosmos sulphureus ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Cosmos (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 144552; taxon 6B7BM.
  • Panchita (ES) — VernacularName.tsv, line 144553; taxon 6B7BM.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Cosmos sulphureus is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Asteraceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
0.61–0.91 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
0.3–0.91 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Clumping

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Annual

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Rapid

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Autumn; Spring; Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: butterflies, pollinators.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Pollinator guidance
RHS includes Cosmos species in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.

Genus-level guidance, not a rating for this individual species or a particular cultivar. RHS planting guidance. Choose accessible flowers with pollen and nectar; reduced-resource and double-flowered forms may be unsuitable.

Sources [3]
Native range
Mexico to C. America.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [4]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Medium suitability
Nectar value Medium
Pollen value Medium
Plant profile

About this plant

Yellow Cosmos (Cosmos sulphureus) is a herbaceous plant. It flowers from June to September.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Cosmos sulphureus — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 2033988; ID 6B7BM; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 2033988; ID 6B7BM; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Cosmos sulphureus — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Garden Plants

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 3, column 1, entry Cosmos species (top 577 pt)

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Cosmos sulphureus — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 531801; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 1685065, 1685066, 1685067, 1685068, 1685069, 1685070, 1685071, 1685072, 1685073, 1685074, 1685075, 1685076

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.