This popular Mexican annual has had widespread ornamental use in Ky., including frequent plantings along roads, but it does not seem to persist or spread into the wild. Other Comsos species may be expected in cultivation, especially C, sulphureus Cavanilles. Cosmos is a diverse genus very close to Bidens, but mostly native to warmer regions (2n = 24 in general). It differs from Bidens as follows (FNA 21): staminal filaments hairy near anthers (versus not hairy)); disc florets 10-20 (versus 5-150+);; cypselae usually with 1 groove on each face (versus 0 or 2 grooves), more or less 4-angled and not winged (versus 4-angled or obcompressed and winged). Rays have diverse colors (white / pink / purple / red-orange / yellow); in Bidens rays are usually yellow.