[3][4] The generic name Cosmos derives either from the Greek κόσμος (cosmos) ‘(ordered) world’ -in reference to the neat, orderly arrangement of the floral structures [5] - or the Greek κόσμημα (kósmima) ‘jewel’ - in reference to the jewel-like colours of the capitula (composite flowers).

The leaves are simple, pinnate, or bipinnate, and arranged in opposite pairs.

The flowers are produced in a capitulum with a ring of broad ray florets and a center of disc florets; flower color varies noticeably between the different species.

In the United States, some varieties may be found as far north as the Olympic Peninsula in Washington, but the range also extends through Central America to South America as far south as Paraguay[citation needed].

[7] It is also widespread over the high eastern plains of South Africa, where it was introduced via contaminated horsefeed during the Anglo-Boer War.