The foliage of garden cosmos presents itself as a cloudy mass of fresh green, crowned in the upper reaches by numerous vivid mauve or magenta flower heads. Its overall appearance is that of a medium-size shrub that is soft, flexible, feathery and fernlike, due to the abundant, graceful, airy, delicate foliage and the equally delicate, fluttering blossoms.
Garden cosmos has an urge to stretch upwards into the air, flexible enough to bend with the wind, and strong enough to return to an upright state whenever the wind lets up. Its flowers dance and sway gracefully in response to the wind, even in the tightest breeze.