Cosmos Fondant Fancy

Cosmos Fondant Fancy Seeds

Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Fondant Fancy’ (Fused-Petal Saucer Cosmos — Thompson & Morgan Exclusive)

Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Fondant Fancy’ is a new cultivar developed exclusively by Thompson & Morgan, one of the UK’s oldest and most respected seed breeding houses. It was featured as one of the stars of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025, exhibited by Jonathan Sheppard — National Plant Collection Holder for Cosmos bipinnatus — where its rich pink, saucer-shaped blooms and airy, feathery foliage drew attention for their cottage garden charm.

The variety belongs to the same fused-petal lineage as Thompson & Morgan’s celebrated Cosmos Cupcakes range. The original Cupcakes trait was discovered in 2007 when a US customer sent seeds of an unusual cosmos in which all petals are fused into one single cup, completely changing the normally daisy-looking flower. Since then, T&M breeders fixed and refined this unique trait across a range of colors and habits. Fondant Fancy represents the latest refinement of this work — a single-color selection in a sophisticated soft pink with a bicolor depth that makes it visually distinct from the original Cupcakes range.

The petals are completely fused, forming a neat pink cup with a darker pink halo encircling the golden anthers. Beneficial pollinators find the open flowers easy to locate and land upon, leaving the blooms buzzing with bees and butterflies. This open cup form is functionally superior to complex double or semi-double flowers for pollinator access — the nectar and pollen are fully exposed and easily reached.

Endless flurries of these saucer-shaped blooms float over bushy mounds of feathery foliage for months, and the long, flower-packed stems are a florist’s dream. The feathery, finely divided foliage is a characteristic feature of Cosmos bipinnatus — it creates a soft, airy backdrop that prevents the planting from feeling heavy or dense and allows the flowers to appear to float above the canopy.

Like all cosmos, Fondant Fancy is easy to grow, fast from seed to flower, and performs best when slightly neglected — it does not require fertilizing and flowers most freely in moderately poor, well-drained soil.

Variety Details

• Botanical Name: Cosmos bipinnatus
• Variety: ‘Fondant Fancy’
• Breeder: Thompson & Morgan (UK)
• Distinction: New cultivar — exhibited at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025
• Flower Type: Fused-petal saucer / cup-shaped
• Seed Type: Open pollinated
• Plant Type: Half-hardy annual

Key Features

• Thompson & Morgan exclusive new breeding — exhibited at RHS Chelsea 2025
• Unique fused-petal cup-shaped flower form — visually unlike standard cosmos
• Soft pink blooms with deeper pink halo around golden anthers
• Tall plants to 120 cm with long cutting stems and excellent vase life
• Continuous flowering over an extended season
• Open cup form maximizes pollinator access — outstanding for bees and butterflies
• Fast and easy from seed — germinates in 7–15 days
• Thrives in poor to moderately fertile soil — no fertilizer required
• Weather-tolerant — holds its display through rain, wind, and dry spells

Plant Information

• Height: 120 cm
• Spread: 60 cm
• Plant Type: Half-hardy annual
• Habit: Tall, bushy, well-branched
• Flower Size: Approximately 5–6 cm across
• Flower Form: Fused-petal cup / saucer shape
• Foliage: Finely divided, feathery, mid-green

Germination Instructions

• Sow cosmos seeds from a depth of 3 mm in good quality seed compost and cover with a very fine sprinkling of vermiculite.
• Place the seed tray in a propagator at a temperature of 18–25°C, or seal inside a polythene bag.
• Keep the soil damp but not wet. Do not exclude light as this aid’s germination, which usually takes 7–15 days.
• When seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant into 7 cm individual pots and grow on in slightly cooler conditions until well established.
• Transplant to final position with a spacing of 45 cm between plants.
• Pinch out the growing tip of each seedling at transplanting stage to encourage branching and heavier flower production.

Growing Tips

• Cosmos performs best in full sun with poor to moderately fertile, well-drained soil.
• Rich soil and excessive fertilizing produce lush green plants with fewer flowers — avoid adding compost or nitrogen-heavy feeds unless the soil is extremely deficient.
• Water regularly until fully established then reduce to moderate irrigation, allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings.
• Deadhead faded flowers regularly to encourage continuous bloom production throughout the season.
• Pinching young plants at 15–20 cm height promotes a bushy, well-branched structure with more flowering stems.
• Despite their delicate looks, cosmos plants are tough and will stay standing in rain or drought.
• Provide light support in exposed positions where strong wind is a factor, as the tall stems can lean at full height.

Gulf Planting Season

• Indoor sowing (seed trays): September to mid-October
• Transplant outdoors: mid-October to November
• Direct sowing outdoors: October to November
• Peak flowering season: November to March
• Note: In Kuwait’s climate, cosmos flowers most freely and produces its finest stems during the cool months of November through February.
• Tall plants may require light support in open exposed garden positions.
• Pinching at transplanting stage is strongly recommended to maximize branching and extend the flowering display through the full Gulf cool season.

Garden & Floral Uses

• Fondant Fancy is primarily a cut flower cosmos with exceptional stem length and continuous production that keeps cutting gardens well supplied throughout the Gulf cool season.
• These long-flowering cosmos can be sown in large, stunning drifts or dotted about in borders, providing an unflagging display that plugs gaps as other plants come and go.
• The fused-petal cup form distinguishes it clearly from standard flat-petalled cosmos in mixed plantings and arrangements, adding visual interest and novelty without losing the characteristic lightness and movement that makes cosmos so valued in naturalistic garden design.
• The feathery foliage provides excellent filler material in bouquets.
  As a pollinator plant it is outstanding — the open, easily accessible cup form attracts bees, butterflies, and hoverflies in large numbers, making it a high-value plant for any wildlife-friendly garden space.