“King Cosmos” in 1 million seed give away
Cosmos National Plant Collection Holder and Chelsea Exhibitor Jonathan Sheppard, from Brant Broughton, has decided to make 2026 the year of the cosmos by giving away one million cosmos seeds.
According to Sheppard, “What better way of encouraging people to grow the plant I love than getting people to have a go at growing some from seed? Having exhibited at the RHS Flower Shows for a few years, I am still amazed that some people can still be quite intimidated at growing from seed, when for me, propagating this way is one of the most amazing experiences you can get in the garden. Seeing a tiny seed grow to a full-sized plant that the pollinators love”.
Having launched Thompson and Morgan’s Fondant Fancy at the Chelsea Flower Show last year, he has partnered with them again on this initiative. “I didn’t fancy bagging up thousands of packs of seeds, so when I thought about how to do this, I knew exactly who to turn to.”
And what is the seed mix called? “I had the immense honour of meeting HM The Queen at the last two Chelsea Flower Shows and having grown her some of my cosmos, some wag decided to nickname me ‘King Cosmos’, so for a bit of fun, I’ve plumped for that, the King Cosmos Mix.”