Heirloom

Double Click Snow Puff

Cosmos bipinnatus

Photo: F.W. Bolgiano & Co; Henry G. Gilbert Nursery and Seed Trade Catalog Collection · Wikimedia Commons · (No restrictions)

Tall plants with large fully double and semidouble blooms. Pure white flowers with a small percentage displaying a soft blush of pink. 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 Snow Puff in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 flower →

Zone Map

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Double Click Snow Puff · Zones 2–11

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing12-18 inches

SoilWell-drained, poor to average soil; tolerates sandy or loamy conditions

WaterModerate; drought tolerant once established

SeasonWarm season annual

ColorPure white with soft pink blush

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

Direct sow every 3 weeks from April through June in zone 7, stopping once daytime highs are consistently above 90°F — germination stalls in serious heat and seedlings started in that window tend to sit without establishing. Starting a round indoors in late February and transplanting in April gets you blooms 2-3 weeks earlier than direct-sown plants, which matters if you want flowers before summer peaks. Deadhead every 4-5 days and individual plants keep producing; the main reason to stagger sowings is to spread the bloom window across more of the season, not because any single plant quits quickly.

Complete Growing Guide

Tall plants with large fully double and semidouble blooms. Pure white flowers with a small percentage displaying a soft blush of pink. Cosmos are also known as garden cosmos. According to Johnny's Selected Seeds, Double Click Snow Puff 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 Snow Puff reaches harvest at 75 - 90 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. As an annual, harvest continues until frost ends the season.

Type: Capsule.

Storage & Preservation

Fresh Double Click Snow Puff cosmos flowers should be stored in a cool location, ideally in a vase with fresh water at room temperature or in a refrigerator (32-40°F) to extend vase life to 7-10 days. Keep away from ethylene-producing fruits and maintain moderate humidity. For preservation, try air-drying by hanging bunches upside-down in a warm, dark, well-ventilated space for 1-2 weeks, creating long-lasting dried arrangements. Alternatively, press flowers between parchment paper under heavy weights for 2-3 weeks to create flattened specimens for crafts and framing. Frozen preservation in water-filled ice cube trays maintains color for several months, suitable for decorative purposes.

History & Origin

Double Click Snow Puff 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

+Produces large, fully double blooms ideal for cut flower arrangements
+Easy to grow from seed with minimal gardening experience required
+Tall plants provide excellent vertical interest and background garden structure
+Blooms prolifically for 75-90 days with extended flowering season
+Pure white flowers with occasional pink blush offer elegant color variation

Considerations

-Tall stems require staking or support in windy garden locations
-Double flowers may be slower to produce seeds for self-sowing
-Pink blush coloring is unpredictable, limiting consistency in arrangements

Companion Plants

Marigolds deter aphids and whiteflies through root and foliage compounds that make the immediate area less hospitable to both pests, while Sweet Alyssum pulls in parasitic wasps and hoverflies that hunt those same insects. Nasturtiums work as a trap crop — aphid colonies build up on them first, which keeps pressure off the cosmos long enough to matter. Basil is a fine neighbor that keeps pollinators cycling through the bed. Sunflowers are the problem: they're allelopathic, and the compounds they leach through roots and decomposing stems have been shown to suppress germination and stunt growth in nearby annuals, including cosmos.

Plant Together

Marigolds

Repel aphids, whiteflies, and nematodes while attracting beneficial insects

Sweet Alyssum

Attracts beneficial predatory insects like lacewings and parasitic wasps

Nasturtiums

Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles, drawing pests away

Petunias

Repel aphids, tomato hornworms, and other soft-bodied insects

Celosia

Similar growing conditions and bloom times, attracts pollinators

Cosmos

Attracts beneficial insects and provides complementary flower structure

Zinnia

Attracts butterflies and beneficial insects while having similar care requirements

Basil

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

Keep Apart

Black Walnut

Produces juglone toxin that inhibits growth and can kill sensitive flowering plants

Sunflowers

Allelopathic compounds inhibit germination and growth of nearby smaller plants

Eucalyptus

Releases allelopathic chemicals that suppress growth of most garden plants

Pests & Disease Resistance

Common Pests

Spider mites, aphids, whiteflies

Diseases

Powdery mildew, root rot in overly wet conditions

Troubleshooting Double Click Snow Puff

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

Fine webbing on undersides of leaves, tips looking bleached or stippled, usually in hot dry spells

Likely Causes

Two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) — thrives when temps push above 85°F and humidity drops
Dusty or crowded conditions that stress the plant

What to Do

1.Blast the undersides of leaves with a strong stream of water every 2-3 days — it physically knocks mites off and they don't climb back well
2.If the infestation is heavy, apply insecticidal soap or neem oil in the evening so it doesn't burn foliage in full sun
3.Space plants at least 12 inches apart so air moves through freely

White powdery coating on upper leaf surfaces, usually starting on older leaves in mid to late summer

Likely Causes

Powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) — a fungal pathogen that spreads by air, not water; warm days and cool nights accelerate it
Poor airflow from overcrowding or planting against a wall

What to Do

1.Remove and trash (don't compost) the worst-affected leaves as soon as you see them
2.Spray remaining foliage with a diluted baking soda solution (1 tablespoon per gallon of water) or a potassium bicarbonate product every 7-10 days
3.Next season, thin to 18-inch spacing and avoid overhead watering in the evening

Stems wilting and collapsing at the soil line, crown feels soft or mushy, soil still damp

Likely Causes

Root rot from Pythium or Rhizoctonia — both take hold fast in waterlogged, poorly drained soil
Planting in a low spot that holds water after rain, or watering on a schedule regardless of soil moisture

What to Do

1.Pull the affected plant — a cosmos rotted at the crown won't recover
2.Let the surrounding soil dry out completely before watering again; once plants reach 6-8 inches tall they handle dry stretches better than wet ones
3.Before replanting that spot, work in coarse compost or perlite to open up drainage, and choose a bed that sheds water rather than collects it

Frequently Asked Questions

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

With proper care, these flowers typically last 7-10 days in fresh water. Change the water every 2-3 days, trim stems at an angle, and keep them in a cool location away from direct heat and ripening fruits to maximize vase life.

Can you grow Double Click Snow Puff cosmos in containers?▼

Yes, cosmos grow well in containers. Plant in well-draining potting soil in a pot at least 12 inches deep. Place in full sun (6+ hours daily), water when the top inch of soil is dry, and provide support stakes as plants can reach 3-4 feet tall depending on variety.

When should I plant Double Click Snow Puff cosmos seeds?▼

Sow seeds outdoors after the last frost date once soil has warmed, or start indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost and transplant seedlings after frost danger passes. These are fast-growing flowers that typically bloom 75-90 days from planting.

Is Double Click Snow Puff a good flower variety for beginners?▼

Absolutely! These cosmos are classified as easy to grow, making them ideal for beginners. They tolerate poor soil, require minimal maintenance once established, handle heat and drought well, and produce abundant blooms throughout the season with just basic care.

How much sunlight do Double Click Snow Puff cosmos need?▼

These flowers perform best with full sun to partial shade, requiring at least 4-6+ hours of direct sunlight daily. More sun generally produces more abundant blooms and bushier plants, though they can tolerate some afternoon shade in hot climates.

What makes Double Click Snow Puff cosmos different from regular cosmos?▼

Double Click varieties feature fully double and semidouble blooms with multiple layers of petals, creating a fuller, more dramatic flower compared to single-petaled regular cosmos. The Snow Puff cultivar produces pure white flowers with occasional soft pink blush for added garden interest.