Family: Asteraceae
High Risk Traits:
- Thrives in tropical climates
- Elevation range exceeds 1000 m
- Widely naturalized
- A garden and disturbance weed
- Other Cosmos species have become invasive
- Conflicting reports on possible toxicity
- A mild allergen
- Tolerates many soil types
- Can from dense stands that may potentially exclude other vegetation
- Seeds freely
- The plant can regenerate from a small piece of stem
- Annual able to reach maturity in one growing season
- Seeds dispersed intentionally by people and externally on animals and possibly machinery or clothing
Low Risk Traits:
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns or burrs)
- Requires full sun
- Self-incompatible
- Used as an ornamental and to attract and benefit pollinators