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