When to Plant Cosmos in Texas

In a typical Texas location, start seeds indoors Feb 7 – Feb 14, then sow outdoors Mar 14 – Mar 28, then transplant outdoors Mar 14 – Mar 21. Across the state, the outdoor planting window starts as early as Jan 15 in Edinburg and as late as Apr 28 in Dumas.

Method Direct sow
Days to maturity 60–90 days

Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early.

Cosmos Planting Dates by City

CityStart indoorsDirect sowTransplant
HoustonJan 5 – Jan 12Feb 9 – Feb 23Feb 9 – Feb 16
San AntonioJan 28 – Feb 4Mar 4 – Mar 18Mar 4 – Mar 11
DallasFeb 2 – Feb 9Mar 9 – Mar 23Mar 9 – Mar 16
Fort WorthFeb 5 – Feb 12Mar 12 – Mar 26Mar 12 – Mar 19
AustinFeb 10 – Feb 17Mar 17 – Mar 31Mar 17 – Mar 24
El PasoFeb 2 – Feb 9Mar 9 – Mar 23Mar 9 – Mar 16
ArlingtonFeb 9 – Feb 16Mar 16 – Mar 30Mar 16 – Mar 23
Corpus ChristiJan 3 – Jan 10Feb 7 – Feb 21Feb 7 – Feb 14
PlanoFeb 7 – Feb 14Mar 14 – Mar 28Mar 14 – Mar 21
LaredoDec 23 – Dec 30Jan 27 – Feb 10Jan 27 – Feb 3
LubbockFeb 24 – Mar 3Mar 31 – Apr 14Mar 31 – Apr 7
GarlandFeb 7 – Feb 14Mar 14 – Mar 28Mar 14 – Mar 21
IrvingFeb 2 – Feb 9Mar 9 – Mar 23Mar 9 – Mar 16
CypressJan 22 – Jan 29Feb 26 – Mar 12Feb 26 – Mar 5
AmarilloMar 18 – Mar 25Apr 22 – May 6Apr 22 – Apr 29
Grand PrairieFeb 9 – Feb 16Mar 16 – Mar 30Mar 16 – Mar 23
BrownsvilleDec 12 – Dec 19Jan 16 – Jan 30Jan 16 – Jan 23
McKinneyFeb 17 – Feb 24Mar 24 – Apr 7Mar 24 – Mar 31
FriscoFeb 7 – Feb 14Mar 14 – Mar 28Mar 14 – Mar 21
PasadenaJan 5 – Jan 12Feb 9 – Feb 23Feb 9 – Feb 16
MesquiteFeb 2 – Feb 9Mar 9 – Mar 23Mar 9 – Mar 16
KilleenFeb 14 – Feb 21Mar 21 – Apr 4Mar 21 – Mar 28
McAllenDec 12 – Dec 19Jan 16 – Jan 30Jan 16 – Jan 23
CarrolltonFeb 2 – Feb 9Mar 9 – Mar 23Mar 9 – Mar 16
MidlandFeb 26 – Mar 5Apr 2 – Apr 16Apr 2 – Apr 9
WacoFeb 9 – Feb 16Mar 16 – Mar 30Mar 16 – Mar 23
DentonFeb 13 – Feb 20Mar 20 – Apr 3Mar 20 – Mar 27
AbileneFeb 20 – Feb 27Mar 27 – Apr 10Mar 27 – Apr 3
Round RockFeb 11 – Feb 18Mar 18 – Apr 1Mar 18 – Mar 25
BeaumontJan 17 – Jan 24Feb 21 – Mar 7Feb 21 – Feb 28

Showing the 30 most populous of 258 Texas cities. Dates are estimates from each city's NOAA frost normals and university extension timing guidelines. See all Texas cities.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant cosmos in Texas?

In a typical Texas location, start seeds indoors Feb 7 – Feb 14, then sow outdoors Mar 14 – Mar 28, then transplant outdoors Mar 14 – Mar 21. Across the state, the outdoor planting window starts as early as Jan 15 in Edinburg and as late as Apr 28 in Dumas.

When is the last frost in Texas?

The average last spring frost in Texas ranges from January 8 in Edinburg to April 21 in Dumas, based on NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals.

How long do cosmos take to grow?

Cosmos typically take 60–90 days from planting to harvest. Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early.

Other Crops in Texas

When to plant cosmos in other states

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