It is native to Latin America (from Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil to Tamaulipas in northeastern Mexico),[3] and the West Indies, though naturalized in tropical parts of Asia, Africa, and Australia.

[4][5][6][7][8][9] The plant is known by several vernacular names in Central America which include:[10] The species grows up to 2 m (6 ft 7 in) in height.

As night falls the leaves fold to close the terminal buds as the plant literally sleeps.

The flowers can be found solitary or in a loose clusters and are produced on a single stalk on auxiliary heads.

[11] Cosmos caudatus is edible and its common names include kenikir (Indonesia) or ulam raja (in Malaysia, calqued as "the King's salad").