Good plant, mediocre results — what went wrong with my Cosmos

Cosmos is clearly a great plant — I can see that from other people's results. Mine has been decent but not spectacular, and I think I know why.

I underestimated the importance of sowing directly into poor soil as rich soil encourages weeds in the early stages and paid for it. annual weed competition overwhelming slow-establishing flowers also knocked the plant back at a critical point. It lives in a naturalistic border at the edge of a garden which is probably not quite right but it's the best I can do in my space. naturalistic aesthetic that suits modern ecological gardens is visible but muted. seed setting and dispersal in late summer gave me hope — there are glimpses of what it could be. Three stars for now with potential for four.