Heirloom

Double Click Cranberries

Cosmos bipinnatus

Photo: Arturo Castro Castro · Wikimedia Commons · (CC BY 4.0)

Tall plants with strong stems support fully double and semidouble blooms 2-3" across. The deep color adds richness to cut-flower arrangements. Cosmos are also known as garden cosmos.

Harvest

75-90d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun to partial shade

☀️

Zones

2–11

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

2-4 feet

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Showing dates for Double Click Cranberries in USDA Zone 7

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Zone Map

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Double Click Cranberries · Zones 2–11

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing18-24 inches

SoilWell-drained, tolerates poor soil

WaterModerate; drought tolerant once established

SeasonWarm season annual

ColorDeep crimson-red

Size2-3"

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 1	May – June	July – August	July – September	—
Zone 2	April – May	June – July	June – August	—
Zone 11	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 12	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 13	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 3	April – May	June – July	June – August	—
Zone 4	March – April	June – June	June – July	—
Zone 5	March – April	May – June	May – July	—
Zone 6	March – April	May – June	May – July	—
Zone 7	February – March	April – May	April – June	—
Zone 8	February – March	April – May	April – June	—
Zone 9	January – February	March – April	March – May	—
Zone 10	January – January	February – March	February – April	—

Succession Planting

Cosmos is one of the easier cuts to succession-plant because each sowing finishes fast and you can keep fresh, tight blooms coming through the whole warm season. In zone 7, direct sow every 3-4 weeks starting around April 1, once soil temps are consistently above 60°F, and keep going through mid-June. That usually gives you two to three overlapping waves before heat and shorter days wind things down in October.

Stop new sowings by late June. Seeds started after that point germinate fine, but the plants tend to rush to flower at a compressed height — sometimes under 18 inches — as daylength shortens, and you'll see fewer of the full, layered double blooms that make this variety worth the bed space. Deadhead or cut every 5-7 days to keep plants from setting seed and shutting down early.

Complete Growing Guide

Tall plants with strong stems support fully double and semidouble blooms 2-3" across. The deep color adds richness to cut-flower arrangements. Cosmos are also known as garden cosmos. According to Johnny's Selected Seeds, Double Click Cranberries is 75 - 90 days to maturity, annual, open pollinated. Notable features: Use for Cut Flowers and Bouquets.

Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Occasionally Dry. Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: Low. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.

Harvesting

Double Click Cranberries reaches harvest at 75 - 90 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. Expect 2-3" at peak. As an annual, harvest continues until frost ends the season.

Type: Capsule.

Storage & Preservation

For fresh cut flowers, store Double Click Cranberries in a clean vase with cool water in a cool room away from direct sunlight and ripening fruit. Keep at 65-72°F with moderate humidity. These blooms typically last 7-10 days with daily water changes. Preservation methods: (1) Air dry by hanging upside down in a dark, well-ventilated space for 2-3 weeks to create long-lasting dried arrangements. (2) Press flowers between heavy books or a flower press for 2-4 weeks to preserve for crafts and potpourri. (3) Freeze-dry using silica gel to maintain color and structure for decorative use.

History & Origin

Double Click Cranberries is open-pollinated, meaning seed saved from healthy plants will produce true-to-type offspring. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.

Origin: Mexico and southwest North America

Advantages

+Fully double blooms create dramatic, rich cranberry color for arrangements
+Strong stems support 2-3 inch flowers without staking or support
+Blooms prolifically from 75-90 days, making it reliable for cutting
+Easy to grow variety suitable for beginners and experienced gardeners
+Deep color adds sophisticated richness that single cosmos varieties cannot match

Considerations

-Requires deadheading to maintain continuous blooming throughout the season
-Double flowers may attract fewer pollinators than single-flowered cosmos varieties
-Tall plants need adequate spacing to prevent fungal issues in humidity
-Takes 75-90 days to flower, longer than some quick-blooming cosmos cultivars

Companion Plants

Marigolds and Sweet Alyssum are the two companions worth planting close to Double Click Cosmos, and they work for different reasons. French Marigolds (like 'Petite Gold') release thiophene compounds from their roots that suppress root-knot nematodes — a real benefit in beds you've cycled through annuals for a few years running. Sweet Alyssum, topping out around 4-6 inches, sits low under the Cosmos canopy and pulls in parasitic wasps and hoverflies through its small, nectar-dense flowers. Those insects hit the aphid colonies that sometimes build up on Cosmos bud tips without you having to do much about it.

Nasturtiums are worth a closer look here in our zone 7 Georgia garden: they act as a trap crop, drawing black bean aphids away from Cosmos, and they fill in the ground-level gaps that 2-4 foot Cosmos stalks leave wide open. They're also fast enough from seed that you can direct-sow them the same day you transplant your Cosmos starts and they'll keep pace.

The companions to skip aren't about soil chemistry so much as logistics. Dense groundcovers planted tight to the base will hold humidity around the stems through Georgia's wet summer spells and set up exactly the conditions that Erysiphe cichoracearum needs to take hold. Black Walnut is a harder problem — juglone moves through the soil far enough that Cosmos planted within 50-60 feet of an established tree may fail to thrive at all, and the symptoms (stunted growth, slow decline) are easy to misread as a watering issue.

Plant Together

Marigolds

Repel aphids, whiteflies, and nematodes while attracting beneficial insects

Sweet Alyssum

Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps that control pests

Nasturtiums

Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles, protecting zinnias

Cosmos

Attract pollinators and beneficial insects while providing complementary flower colors

Basil

Repels thrips, aphids, and spider mites that commonly affect zinnias

Lavender

Deters rabbits, deer, and flying pests while attracting pollinators

Sunflowers

Provide beneficial habitat for pest predators and attract pollinators

Cleome

Attracts beneficial insects and provides vertical interest without competition

Keep Apart

Impatiens

Compete for similar growing conditions and may harbor common fungal diseases

Dense Groundcovers

Restrict air circulation leading to increased powdery mildew and fungal issues

Black Walnut Trees

Release juglone toxin that inhibits zinnia growth and causes wilting

Troubleshooting Double Click Cranberries

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Seedlings stretch tall and flop over within 2-3 weeks of germination, stems thin and pale

Likely Causes

Insufficient light — less than 6 hours of direct sun causes etiolation
Starting indoors too early, typically more than 6 weeks before last frost, with weak winter light

What to Do

1.Move flats to the brightest south-facing window or put them under a grow light 2-3 inches above the seedlings for 14-16 hours a day
2.Don't start Double Click Cosmos indoors more than 4-5 weeks before transplant date — they move fast and get leggy quickly
3.Pinch the lead stem once seedlings hit 6 inches to encourage branching and a stockier plant before you set them out

Powdery white coating on leaves and stems, usually showing up mid-summer after plants are well established

Likely Causes

Powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) — common on Cosmos bipinnatus in humid conditions with poor airflow
Crowded planting at less than 18-inch spacing, which traps moisture around foliage

What to Do

1.Space plants at least 18-24 inches apart from the start — this is the single biggest prevention measure
2.Strip badly affected leaves and dispose of them in the trash, not the compost
3.A diluted neem oil spray (2 tsp per quart of water) applied in the early morning can slow spread, though it won't reverse existing damage

Aphid clusters on new buds and tender stem tips, buds sometimes distorted or failing to open

Likely Causes

Aphid pressure (commonly Myzus persicae or Aphis gossypii) — Cosmos attract them, especially in flushes of tender new growth
Absence of beneficial insect habitat nearby, leaving aphid populations unchecked

What to Do

1.Knock aphids off with a firm spray of water from the hose — do this in the morning so foliage dries before evening
2.Plant Sweet Alyssum or Marigolds within a few feet to draw in parasitic wasps and hoverflies that feed on aphids
3.If populations are heavy and water isn't cutting it, spot-treat with insecticidal soap, keeping it off open blooms

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do Double Click Cranberry cosmos flowers last in a vase?▼

Double Click Cranberry cosmos typically last 7-10 days in a vase when properly maintained. Change the water daily, trim the stems at an angle, and remove any lower foliage to extend vase life. Keep them in a cool location away from direct sunlight and ripening fruit, which release ethylene gas that can shorten bloom duration.

Are Double Click Cranberry cosmos good for beginners?▼

Yes, absolutely. Cosmos are known for being easy to grow and very forgiving plants. Double Click Cranberry varieties are no exception—they thrive in full sun to partial shade, tolerate poor soil, require minimal care, and produce abundant blooms. They're perfect for novice gardeners looking for reliable, rewarding plants.

Can you grow Double Click Cranberries in containers?▼

Yes, Double Click Cranberries grow well in containers. Use at least a 12-inch pot with drainage holes and quality potting soil. They prefer full sun (4-6+ hours) and need consistent watering since containers dry faster than garden beds. Container-grown cosmos may need staking for support due to their tall stems and heavy double blooms.

When should I plant Double Click Cranberry cosmos?▼

Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost date, or direct sow after the last frost once soil warms. These flowers prefer warm soil and won't germinate in cold conditions. They're summer bloomers, so timing planting for early to mid-summer flowering provides the best results and longest blooming season.

Why are my Double Click cosmos so tall and thin?▼

Tall, thin growth usually indicates insufficient light. Cosmos need 4-6+ hours of full sun daily for stocky, sturdy stems. If grown in shade, they'll stretch toward light. Ensure adequate spacing, avoid over-watering, and pinch seedlings when young to encourage bushier growth with more branching and blooms.

How far apart should I space Double Click Cranberry cosmos?▼

Space plants 18-24 inches apart to allow good air circulation and room for their tall stems and abundant foliage. Proper spacing reduces disease risk, makes staking easier, and ensures each plant receives adequate light and nutrients for maximum flowering and strongest stem development.