Family: Asteraceae
High Risk Traits:
- Thrives in tropical climates
- Broad climate suitability
- Widely naturalized
- A garden and disturbance weed
- Other Cosmos species have become invasive
- Unpalatable to deer
- Tolerates many soil types
- Seeds freely
- Self-compatible
- 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
- Not known to spread vegetatively
- Used as an ornamental and to attract and benefit pollinators