Chocolate Cosmos

Cosmos atrosanguineus is a herbaceous perennial plant growing to 40–60 cm tall, with a fleshy tuberous root. The leaves are 7–15 cm long, pinnate, with leaflets 2–5 cm long. The flowers are produced in a capitulum 3–4.5 cm diameter, dark red to maroon-dark brown, with a ring of six to ten (usually eight) broad ray florets and a center of disc florets; they have a light vanillin fragrance (like many chocolates), which becomes more noticeable towards the end of the day.

Although it had been reported that Cosmos atrosanguineus was extinct in the wild, a research project on the genus Cosmos begun in 2007 by Mexican botanist Aarón Rodríguez found modern records starting from 1986. Field work showed that it grew in the states of Guanajuato, Querétaro and San Luis Potosí. It is found in mixed pine and oak forest, at elevations of around 1,800–2,450 m (5,910–8,040 ft).

Both seed-raised and vegetatively propagated cultivars are available, varying in the size, colour and shape of the petals. An article in 2017 listed 17 cultivars and seed-raised strains. As of 2018, C. atrosanguineus 'Hamcoec' (trade description Eclipse) has the largest flower heads, up to 5 cm in diameter. The variation in flower color from red to black of Cosmos atrosanguineus and its cultivars results from variation in the amounts of anthocyanins and chalcone present. Hybrids with other Cosmos species are also known in cultivation. As with Cosmos 'Thomocha' (Chocamocha), hybrids may be less scented than the species. Although cosmos smells like chocolate, it should not be eaten. It requires partial sun or full sun, and flowers from mid to late summer. It is frost-sensitive (Zones 6–11); in temperate zones, the tuber has to be dug up and stored in a frost-free store over the winter.