Chocolate Cosmos combination

Bijdezee

Hi all, 

I would appreciate your opinions on good colour combinations for chocolate cosmos. 

Thanks 

Dovefromabove

Do you like bright contrasts, or subtle blends?

Bijdezee

Preference is for subtle blends. 

Dovefromabove

I'd look at some of the creamy/rusty coloured echinaceas and kniphofia and some plummy-brown colours ... Hemerocallis 'Summer Wine' is a good one.   
The blue-leaved hosta 'Hadspen's Blue' looks good with those colours and gives a bit of a zing. 

Borderline

In my opinion, they look good planted against Lavenders, Coreopsis ‘Moonbeam’, and Geum ‘Scarlet Tempest’ or ‘Mai Tai’. 

Bijdezee

Sounds good. I have sown seed of a Ruby red echinacea so that might work too. Maybe bergamot too? 

Bright star

Mine looked good next to Geum “Totally Tangerine” and  Budleja “Buzz Ivory”

Borderline

I think Bergamot would swamp the chocolate Cosmos. They are quite delicate plants that don’t get that tall. 

Something like Verbena Officinalis Var. Grandiflora ‘Bampton’ that has dark stems would pick up the dark flowers and create a more delicate airy feel for added height could work well. 

Bijdezee

Thanks @Borderline,  I think you're right about the bergamot, it seems to want to expand a lot.