Cosmos time has arrived at Delta Park

March is a time when the green fields of Delta Park explode into a sea of pink and white when the cosmos flower blooms.

The cosmos plant is a wildflower known for its vibrant and colourful flowers which are characterised by slender stems and attractive, daisy-like flowers that come in a variety of colours.

Acting executive officer of Delta Park Geoff Lockwood said, “Cosmos flowers are alien species that arrived in South Africa through contaminated horse feed during the Anglo-Boer War in the early 1900s. These flowers now bloom across the northern region of South Africa for a brief period each year.”

Lukas Otto from Linksfield Nursery explains how the flower was named. “The flowers were given the name of ‘cosmos’ by Spanish priests who grew them in their mission gardens in Mexico for decoration, order, and balance in the universe.”

These wildflowers thrived in the dry climate and were spread rapidly where horses were fed.

Why do people like the cosmos flower?
Community members and tourists come to enjoy and appreciate the cosmos flower because it has a cultural meaning and attributes. It symbolises order, harmony, and balance, the opposite of chaos. The flower also represents peace, tranquillity, innocence, modesty, and joy.

Cosmos in the ecosystem
Cosmos flowers attract butterflies and bees which play a key role in pollinating plants.

“The blooms also provide a food source for many animals, including birds and freshwater fish,” says Otto.

Cosmos plants also contribute to the beauty of nature, support pollination and biodiversity, provide food sources for animals and have potential health benefits for humans.

Characteristics of the cosmos flower

• They come in a variety of shades including pink, red, orange, and white.
• They are annuals, meaning their life cycle is complete after each growing season.
• Cosmos season is during autumn – March and early April.
• They grow in dry, hot and sunny areas.
• They are also lovely in residential gardens.
• Not all plants are edible, only the orange and yellow plants have been known to have medical uses.

Medical benefits of the cosmos flower
“Cosmos flower is also a herbal plant that has beneficial effects on human health, traditionally,” according to the National Library of Medicine, the world’s largest biomedical library and a national resource for health professionals, scientists, and the public. It says the orange and yellow blooms contain the chemical compounds lutein and quercetin, which are used to treat inflammation and manage blood sugar levels.

How to grow cosmos in your garden

• Sowing: spring or summer
• Position: sun
• Spacing: 25x25cm apart
• Germination: 7–14 days
• Days to flower: 90–120
• Heights: 90cm.

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