Differences between marigold and cosmos

Different plant shapes

The plant shapes of marigold and cosmos are different. The plant of cosmos is shorter, about 30 to 100 cm in height. The plant of marigold is tall, 60 to 100 cm high. Judging from the plant shape, marigolds are taller.

Different flower types

The flowers of marigolds and cosmos are very similar, but there are some distinct differences between the two. Marigold flowers are larger, about 6-8 cm in diameter, while cosmos flowers are relatively small, about 3-5 cm in diameter.

The colors of marigold and cosmos are very similar, most of them have yellow or orange flowers, but cosmos has red spots on its petals, while marigold does not have red spots. If the flower looks red, it is a cosmos plant because it has red patches. On the other hand, the flowers of marigold have dense petals and look fuller, while the flowers of cosmos have sparse petals and are not as layered as marigolds. The petals of cosmos are smoother, while the petals of marigold have many teeth.

The best way to distinguish the two is by the different colors of the flowers and the density of the petals. Maybe at first glance, marigolds and cosmos seem too similar, but with a little observation, you can find the difference between the two.

Other differences

The tip of the inflorescence peduncle of marigold is club-shaped and swollen, while the tip of the inflorescence peduncle of cosmos is slightly thickened.

The flowering period of cosmos is from July to September every year, while the flowering period of marigold is longer than that of cosmos, from June to October every year.

The leaves of the two are different in size, with marigold's leaves being longer.