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When planting cosmos in the garden, you may be wondering if cosmos are perennials, especially if they return to the garden the following year.

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Cosmos are low maintenance plants which make an excellent addition to the summer garden.

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A magnet for beneficial insects, cosmos are popular cottage garden flowers, which often will bloom all summer long.

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Many gardeners wonder if cosmos are perennials, due to their propensity to self seed.

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Most are considered to be annual plants, however there is one popular species which is truly perennial.

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The perennial variety of cosmos is called Cosmos artrosanguineus, commonly known as chocolate cosmos.

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Chocolate cosmos will return to the garden in usda hardiness zones 7 to 10. In colder climates however, the plant will need to be dug up and protected for the winter.

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Some annual varieties of cosmos will appear as if they are perennial, and seem to return to the garden year after year, as perennials often do.

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This is actually the result of self seeding, in which the annual cosmos release their seed, and grow into new plants the following season.

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Self seeding is a natural process by which plants will disperse their seeds into the environment around them, enabling the plant to propagate itself.

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These seeds will then germinate the following season, allowing the plant to grow on through its progeny.

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Most cosmos are annual plants with a 12 month life cycle. When they are finished blooming for the season and have produced seeds, their life cycle is complete.

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The seeds will fall to the ground, and germinate the following season, forming new plants similar to the parent plant.

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For more cosmos plants, you can also collect some seeds for planting next spring. Chocolate cosmos can be dug, to store inside for winter.

For more information, see the tutorial!