Garden Cosmos
Cosmos bipinnatus
Annual
DYE: pink, blue, lilac
 
GROW: Plant outside after all danger of frost has passed, 1" deep, 6-12" apart. Drought tolerant and somewhat cold tolerant, they survive light frosts. To save seed, allow seeds to fully dry in the gardens until they crumble into a bucket; or cut entire seed heads. A prolific producer, the lacy foliage and big blooms reach 30-36" tall and bloom all summer until a hard freeze.
 
HARVEST: Pick at peak bloom and use fresh, or press to dry.
 
DYE: Pink (Garden) Cosmos is not typically used in a dye bath, but does well in ecoprinting or by hammer printing. The color-producing anthocyanin in pink cosmos is not washfast unless the fabric is properly pre-treated. Refer to Dogwood Dyer's tutorials for good info on using pink cosmos.