Heirloom

Versailles Red

Cosmos bipinnatus

Photo: Manchesterunited1234 · Wikimedia Commons · (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Blooms are 2 1/2" across and are a beautiful, dark burgundy/magenta red color. Strong, straight stems can withstand considerable handling. Produces under short days.

Harvest

90-110d

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 Versailles Red in USDA Zone 7

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Zone Map

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Versailles Red · Zones 2–11

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

SeasonWarm season annual

ColorDark burgundy-magenta red

Size2 1/2"

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 Versailles Red every 3 weeks from your last frost date through mid-June in zones 6–8, stopping once daytime highs are reliably above 85°F. Germination doesn't fail outright in heat, but it drops off sharply, and your earlier plantings will already be flowering by then anyway. Each sowing blooms for 6–8 weeks with consistent deadheading, so staggered rounds keep color running from midsummer through first frost.

Cosmos germinates fast — 7 to 10 days at soil temperatures above 60°F — so indoor starts don't need more than 4 weeks of lead time. A late-May direct sowing will typically catch up to a February-started transplant within two to three weeks of germination.

Complete Growing Guide

Blooms are 2 1/2" across and are a beautiful, dark burgundy/magenta red color. Strong, straight stems can withstand considerable handling. Produces under short days. According to Johnny's Selected Seeds, Versailles Red is 90 - 110 days to maturity, annual, open pollinated. Notable features: Easy Choice, Use for Cut Flowers and Bouquets, Attracts Beneficial Insects.

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

Versailles Red reaches harvest at 90 - 110 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. Expect 2 1/2" at peak. As an annual, harvest continues until frost ends the season.

Type: Capsule.

Storage & Preservation

Store fresh cut blooms in a cool location (55-65°F) away from direct sunlight and ripening fruit, which emit ethylene gas. For maximum vase life (7-10 days), keep in cool water and change daily. For preservation, try air-drying by hanging bundles upside-down in a warm, dry, dark space for 2-3 weeks to retain color. Alternatively, press flowers between parchment paper under books for 3-4 weeks for floral arrangements. Silica gel drying offers faster results (3-5 days) and better color retention for decorative or craft use.

History & Origin

Versailles Red 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

+Dark burgundy blooms are striking and distinctive in floral arrangements
+Strong straight stems reduce need for support or conditioning techniques
+Performs reliably in short-day conditions for consistent production
+Relatively easy to grow making it suitable for beginners

Considerations

-90-110 days to bloom requires significant growing time investment
-2.5 inch flowers are smaller than some premium cosmos varieties

Companion Plants

Marigolds and alyssum are worth planting closest to Versailles Red. French marigold varieties like 'Petite Gold' deter whiteflies and aphids through foliar and root emissions, and their bloom timing overlaps cleanly with cosmos from midsummer through fall. Alyssum stays under 6 inches, so it doesn't shade anything out, and its nectar pulls in parasitic wasps (Braconidae) and hoverflies — exactly the insects that prey on the aphids drawn to cosmos buds. Nasturtiums can serve as a sacrificial trap crop, pulling aphid pressure away from your cosmos, though you'll need to cut them back hard once they get overwhelmed.

Black walnut, fennel, and eucalyptus all need to stay well clear. Fennel is subtly allelopathic and stunts most annuals planted within a foot or two of it — it's a bad neighbor for nearly everything in an annual bed. Eucalyptus causes similar problems through root exudates and decomposing leaf litter. Black walnut releases juglone into the surrounding soil; depending on the tree's size, that chemical zone can extend 50 feet or more from the trunk, and cosmos won't thrive inside it.

Plant Together

Marigolds

Repel nematodes and aphids while attracting beneficial insects

Alyssum

Attracts beneficial insects and provides ground cover to retain soil moisture

Nasturtiums

Act as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles while adding vibrant color contrast

Petunias

Repel aphids, tomato hornworms, and squash bugs with natural compounds

Lavender

Deters pests with strong fragrance and attracts pollinators

Zinnia

Attracts beneficial predatory insects and provides complementary flower colors

Cosmos

Attracts beneficial insects and provides height variation in garden design

Catnip

Repels mosquitoes, ants, and rodents more effectively than DEET

Keep Apart

Black Walnut

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

Eucalyptus

Releases allelopathic compounds that suppress growth of nearby plants

Fennel

Inhibits growth of most garden plants through allelopathic root secretions

Troubleshooting Versailles Red

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

Seedlings topple over at soil level, stems look pinched or rotted just below the surface

Likely Causes

Damping off (Pythium or Rhizoctonia spp.) — fungal pathogens that thrive in cold, wet, poorly drained seed-starting mix
Overwatering combined with low airflow around trays

What to Do

1.Toss affected trays — there's no recovering a damped-off flat
2.Start fresh in a sterile, well-draining seed-starting mix and water only when the top layer is dry
3.Run a small fan nearby to keep air moving; it makes a real difference

Powdery white coating on leaves, usually appearing mid-to-late summer on established plants

Likely Causes

Powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) — common on cosmos once nights cool and humidity rises
Crowded planting that restricts airflow between stems

What to Do

1.Thin plants to at least 12 inches apart at the start of the season to prevent the problem before it starts
2.Strip and trash heavily affected leaves; don't compost them
3.A diluted baking soda spray (1 tablespoon per gallon of water) can slow spread on mildly affected plants

Plants stall around 18 inches with buds forming but no real upward push — well short of the 2–4 foot expectation on the label

Likely Causes

Overly rich or heavily amended soil — cosmos are native to poor Mexican highland soils and redirect energy into foliage when nitrogen runs high
Root-bound transplants moved too late; cosmos don't like their roots disturbed once they've settled in

What to Do

1.Skip the fertilizer entirely; Versailles Red genuinely performs better in lean ground
2.Direct sow where you want them to grow, or transplant early when seedlings are no taller than 3 inches
3.If they're already stunted, leave them alone — they'll flower, just at half the height

Dense aphid clusters on new growth and buds, with ants running up and down the stems

Likely Causes

Aphids (Aphididae) — soft-bodied insects that colonize tender growing tips; the ants are farming them for honeydew and not the actual culprit
Absence of nearby predatory insect habitat, which lets populations spike unchecked

What to Do

1.Knock aphids off with a strong stream of water from the hose; repeat every 2–3 days until populations drop
2.Plant alyssum within a few feet — it draws in parasitic wasps (Braconidae) that do most of the real biological control work
3.Avoid broad-spectrum insecticides; they'll wipe out the lacewings and wasps that would otherwise keep aphid numbers in check

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do Versailles Red cut flowers last in a vase?▼

Versailles Red blooms typically last 7-10 days in a vase when properly cared for. Keep stems in cool water (55-65°F), change water daily, and remove lower foliage to prevent bacterial growth. Placing them away from ripening fruit, direct sunlight, and heating vents will extend their vase life considerably.

Is Versailles Red a good flower for beginners?▼

Yes, Versailles Red is ideal for beginners. It's rated as an easy-to-grow heirloom variety that produces strong, straight stems that handle well during harvesting and arranging. It thrives in full sun to partial shade with minimal care requirements, making it forgiving for novice gardeners and florists.

Can you grow Versailles Red in containers?▼

Yes, Versailles Red can be successfully grown in containers, provided they are at least 12 inches deep with adequate drainage. Container-grown plants need consistent watering and regular feeding during the growing season. Ensure containers receive 4-6+ hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal bloom production.

When should I plant Versailles Red flowers?▼

Start Versailles Red indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost, then transplant seedlings outdoors after frost danger passes. For fall blooms, direct sow seeds in summer. This variety produces best under short days, making fall flowering particularly productive. Days to harvest are typically 90-110 days from transplant.

What makes Versailles Red different from other red cut flowers?▼

Versailles Red stands out for its deep burgundy-magenta color, large 2½-inch blooms, and exceptionally strong, straight stems that withstand handling well. As a heirloom variety, it offers classic beauty and reliable performance. Its ability to produce abundantly under short days makes it particularly valuable for fall harvests.

How much sunlight does Versailles Red need?▼

Versailles Red performs best with full sun to partial shade, requiring at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight daily. While it tolerates partial shade, fuller sun exposure promotes stronger stems, larger blooms, and more abundant flowering. Insufficient light may result in weaker stems and fewer flowers.