When to Plant Cosmos in Texas

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.

Texas spans USDA hardiness zones 10a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 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.

Find Your County

Click your county for exact Cosmos planting dates based on your local frost dates.

Cosmos Planting Calendar for Texas

▸ 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 6b ~205 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: April 3 · First frost: October 25 · 205 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	March 6	Mar 6 – Mar 20
Transplant Outdoors	April 3	Apr 3 – Apr 17
Direct Sow	April 3	Apr 3 – Apr 24
Bloom	June 12	Jun 12 – Sep 25

▸ Zone 7a ~221 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: March 25 · First frost: November 1 · 221 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	February 25	Feb 25 – Mar 11
Transplant Outdoors	March 25	Mar 25 – Apr 8
Direct Sow	March 25	Mar 25 – Apr 15
Bloom	June 3	Jun 3 – Sep 23

▸ Zone 7b ~235 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: March 18 · First frost: November 8 · 235 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	February 18	Feb 18 – Mar 4
Transplant Outdoors	March 11	Mar 11 – Mar 25
Direct Sow	March 11	Mar 11 – Apr 1
Bloom	May 20	May 20 – Sep 23

▸ Zone 8a ~255 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: March 8 · First frost: November 18 · 255 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	February 8	Feb 8 – Feb 22
Transplant Outdoors	February 22	Feb 22 – Mar 8
Direct Sow	February 22	Feb 22 – Mar 15
Bloom	May 3	May 3 – Sep 20

▸ 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 Texas

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

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Cosmos in Texas?

Planting dates for Cosmos in Texas depend on your USDA zone. Texas spans zones 10a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b. Check the planting calendar above for your specific zone's frost dates and planting windows.

What zone is Texas for planting?

Texas contains USDA hardiness zones 10a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 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.

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