Scientific Family
Asteraceae
Synonyms
Coreopsis parviflora
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual
Height
To 3 feet
Riparian
No
Southwestern cosmos grows 2 to 3 feet tall and is branched several times in the upper half, with a single flower head at the end of each slender, bare stem. The plants have a sparse, airy appearance.
Annual of slender leafy stems and opposite leaves. Leaves are dissected 2 to 3 times into narrow lobes. Flowers have white to pinkish-purple ray flowers and yellow disc flowers. Flowers are solitary, terminal and 1-1/4 inches across.
Habitat
Open or forested slopes and canyons, sometimes in disturbed and cultivated areas.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Disturbed Areas
Low elevation
4000
High elevation
9000
Flower Characteristics
The flowers have 8 pale pink ray flowers, bright yellow disc flowers and 8 long, narrow sepals. The flower heads are about 1-1/4 inches across.
Flower color
White to pinkish-purple
Flower shape
Daisy or dandelion-like
Tubular
No
First bloom month
July
Last bloom month
October
Flower clusters
None
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
The leaves are very finely divided 2 or 3 times into threadlike segments. They are to 3 inches long.
Leaf type
Compound
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
None
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit color
Blackish
Seeds are slender with 2 barbs at one end which snag onto passing animals or people for dispersal.