WashingtonGardener: Cotton Plant Profile

Wednesday, December 03, 2025

Cotton Plant Profile

Cotton (Gossypium species) is a plant family with a long and tangled history. It has been cultivated and used by humans for thousands of years. Cotton is native to the tropical and subtropical regions of the Old and New Worlds. There are about 50 Gossypium species.

Growing Cotton ornamentally is gaining popularity. It is an interesting and unique plant when used as a thriller in a container or in a garden bed planting. It especially pairs well with tropical-themed gardens.

In USDA Zones 8-10, Cotton is easy to grow from seed that is direct-sown in the soil once the chance of last frost has passed in the spring. In Zones 5-7, it can be started early under grow lights indoors, similar to tomato plant timings.

Cotton is an annual crop. It prefers full sun, well-draining soils, and average moisture.

The plant has maple-like leaves and is a tall and spindly similar to Okra, Hollyhocks, and other members of the Mallow family. The flowers are hibiscus-like and they form seedheads as they dry and mature on the plant, which are the white fibrous “bolls” of cotton fluff. You can cut these off and dry them to use in crafts and to collect the seeds for next year’s plantings.

Some attractive varieties to try in a home garden setting include ‘Red Beauty’, ‘Albe Red Variegated’, and ‘Black Beautiful’.

Cotton: You Can Grow That!

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine.

Audio, Video. Photos, and Text by Kathy Jentz

Editing by Ellen Isaacson

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