When to Plant Cosmos in Florida
Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) is an airy, feathery-foliaged cottage garden annual from Mexico that thrives on neglect. It produces delicate daisy-like blooms in shades of pink, white, and magenta from midsummer until frost. Cosmos is a prolific self-sower — once established in a garden it often returns year after year without replanting. Excellent habitat plant for beneficial insects.
Florida spans USDA hardiness zones 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 8b, 9a, 9b (with planting data available), so planting dates vary by your location within the state. Click your zone below for the most accurate dates.
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Click your county for exact Cosmos planting dates based on your local frost dates.
Hover over a county to see details. Click to view planting guide.
Cosmos Planting Calendar for Florida
▸ Zone 10a ~364 day growing season · Full guide →
Last frost: January 1 · First frost: December 31 · 364 day season
| Activity | When | Date Range |
|---|---|---|
| Start Indoors | December 4 | Dec 4 – Dec 18 |
| Transplant Outdoors | November 20 | Nov 20 – Dec 4 |
| Direct Sow | November 20 | Nov 20 – Dec 11 |
| Bloom | January 29 | Jan 29 – Aug 13 |
▸ Zone 10b ~364 day growing season · Full guide →
Last frost: January 1 · First frost: December 31 · 364 day season
| Activity | When | Date Range |
|---|---|---|
| Start Indoors | December 4 | Dec 4 – Dec 18 |
| Transplant Outdoors | November 13 | Nov 13 – Nov 27 |
| Direct Sow | November 13 | Nov 13 – Dec 4 |
| Bloom | January 22 | Jan 22 – Aug 20 |
▸ Zone 11a ~364 day growing season · Full guide →
Last frost: January 1 · First frost: December 31 · 364 day season
| Activity | When | Date Range |
|---|---|---|
| Start Indoors | December 4 | Dec 4 – Dec 18 |
| Transplant Outdoors | November 6 | Nov 6 – Nov 20 |
| Direct Sow | November 6 | Nov 6 – Nov 27 |
| Bloom | January 15 | Jan 15 – Aug 27 |
▸ Zone 11b ~364 day growing season · Full guide →
Last frost: January 1 · First frost: December 31 · 364 day season
| Activity | When | Date Range |
|---|---|---|
| Start Indoors | December 4 | Dec 4 – Dec 18 |
| Transplant Outdoors | October 30 | Oct 30 – Nov 13 |
| Direct Sow | October 30 | Oct 30 – Nov 20 |
| Bloom | January 8 | Jan 8 – Sep 3 |
▸ Zone 8b ~276 day growing season · Full guide →
Last frost: February 25 · First frost: November 28 · 276 day season
| Activity | When | Date Range |
|---|---|---|
| Start Indoors | January 28 | Jan 28 – Feb 11 |
| Transplant Outdoors | February 4 | Feb 4 – Feb 18 |
| Direct Sow | February 4 | Feb 4 – Feb 25 |
| Bloom | April 15 | Apr 15 – Sep 16 |
▸ Zone 9a ~303 day growing season · Full guide →
Last frost: February 10 · First frost: December 10 · 303 day season
| Activity | When | Date Range |
|---|---|---|
| Start Indoors | January 13 | Jan 13 – Jan 27 |
| Transplant Outdoors | January 13 | Jan 13 – Jan 27 |
| Direct Sow | January 13 | Jan 13 – Feb 3 |
| Bloom | March 24 | Mar 24 – Sep 8 |
▸ Zone 9b ~329 day growing season · Full guide →
Last frost: January 25 · First frost: December 20 · 329 day season
| Activity | When | Date Range |
|---|---|---|
| Start Indoors | December 28 | Dec 28 – Jan 11 |
| Transplant Outdoors | December 21 | Dec 21 – Jan 4 |
| Direct Sow | December 21 | Dec 21 – Jan 11 |
| Bloom | March 1 | Mar 1 – Aug 30 |
Growing Tips for Florida
Direct-sow after last frost; cosmos germinates readily at 65-80°F in 7-10 days. Avoid rich soil — excess fertility produces lush foliage at the expense of blooms. Cosmos tolerates poor, dry soil exceptionally well. Pinch seedlings at 8 inches to encourage branching. Self-sows freely; allow some seed heads to mature and drop for a no-fuss perennial effect in warm climates.
Cosmos in Other States
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I plant Cosmos in Florida?
Planting dates for Cosmos in Florida depend on your USDA zone. Florida spans zones 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 8b, 9a, 9b. Check the planting calendar above for your specific zone's frost dates and planting windows.
What zone is Florida for planting?
Florida contains USDA hardiness zones 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 8b, 9a, 9b. Your specific zone depends on your location within the state — northern and higher-elevation areas are in colder zones, while southern and coastal areas are warmer.