There are many chocolate colored flowers available, but Chocolate Cosmos gets a special boost. I give it this rating because, not only does it have a lovely dark chocolate fragrance, but it is also one of the top 10 rarest flowers in the world. The plant is a perennial and is easy to grow and a stunner in the garden.
Imaging walking through your garden and getting a whiff of dark chocolate with a hint of vanilla wafting from a pretty chocolate colored flower. You have just happened upon a chocolate cosmos!
Chocolate Cosmos has a lovely Chocolate color and Dark Chocolate Fragrance.
This variety of cosmos is a native to Mexico, but has been extinct in the wild for over 100 years.

Photo credit: Ali Express
Chocolate cosmos (Cosmos atrosanguineus) is a perennial plant with a fleshy tuberous root. The flowers are red to maroon brown with a center raised area. The plant has a dark chocolate fragrance that becomes more noticeable as the day wears on.
The center of the flower forms in a cluster like appearance and opens into the traditional cosmos shape with velvety petals. Once the flower has died, the plant will benefit from deadheading, which will encourage additional blooms.
Once open, the flower has a cupped appearance but keeps the stunning cluster center that makes it so interesting. The color can vary from reddish brown to deep chocolate.

Photo credit Flickr – Tanaka Juuyoh
If you can find a plant, it is fairly easy to grow, as are all Cosmos. Chocolate Cosmos can get by on rather dry soil, as long as it is amended. Avoid waterlogged conditions, or the tubers will rot.
Chocolate cosmos makes wonderful cut flowers and does a great job at attracting butterflies to your garden. The Clumps get larger with each passing year. The plant likes lots of sun and a well draining soil. It is hardy to about 20 degrees but can be dug up and stored for the winter the way you do with dahlias.
Raised beds and organic mulch help to maintain even moisture. Propagation is by division of the tubers. This is best done in early spring or fall.
Chocolate cosmos should be grown in a border or in containers where the flowers and fragrance can be appreciated up close. They make very good cut flowers.
This plant comes with both good and bad news. The good news is that it is a perennial, so once you find one you don’t have to replace it every year (as long as you dig it up and save it). The bad news is that it doesn’t throw fertile seeds, so this plant only propagates by its roots.
I grew cosmos for the first time a few summers ago. It is prolific when it comes to bearing flowers and a delight in my garden.
Chocolate Cosmos (Cosmos atrosanguineus), as a plant, can be found in limited amounts for sale at Burpee, New Garden Plants, and Joy Creek Nursery. I have seen seeds for sale on Amazon, but cannot vouch for them, since the plant throws infertile seeds. Another plant which is available as seeds is Osiria rose , which are sold on Amazon, and likely will not grow.
Have you had any luck growing Chocolate Cosmos?
Aiyana
Friday 26th of March 2021
How tall do these grow?
Aiyana
Monday 29th of March 2021
@Carol Speake, Is that in inches or centimeters?
Carol Speake
Saturday 27th of March 2021
The plants grow 24-30” tall.
Tracy Robertson
Monday 30th of September 2019
Mine are huge and covered in flowers. Just planted in June. I love them.
Sandy
Saturday 27th of July 2019
I just purchase from Etsy from hopehappyshop, Rare Chocolate Cosmos Flower Seeds, Professional Pack, with claims of Beautiful Coreopsis New Variety 20 seeds rich scent like chocolate, waiting on delivery... I hope and pray these seeds are fertile... I'm retired military and have had luck with keeping grown plants alive so I am attempting my green thumb care with seeds now...
Carol
Saturday 27th of July 2019
Let us know if they grow for you!
Neil Butterworth
Monday 22nd of October 2018
Thanks for your interesting notes on the single dahlia cultivar "Chocolate Cosmos". We picked one up in the reduced section of a local hardware store and it's just come into flower (Late October). We'll try to look after it. It's currently in a large raised bed at our local community centre here in York, in the north of England. (Foxwood Residents' Association)
Carol
Monday 22nd of October 2018
Hi Ned. I'd love to see a photo of it! Carol
Jaki r
Tuesday 4th of September 2018
I bought a chocolate cosmos this year, I think it’s called moccachokka! It the plant that just keeps giving, I am delighted, my favourite plant this year, so many blooms, in a small container, I deadhead everyday, marvellous
Carol
Wednesday 5th of September 2018
Hi Jaki. The color of the plant is amazing isn't it? Carol