Celosia, cockscomb, Prince of Wales feather
Celosia comes in three interesting bloom shapes: plume, cockscomb, and wheat.
These frothy and feathery annual flowers make a real statement in the garden. They’re beloved by bees and deliver a soft cottage garden feel in your flower border. Although you may find them in your local garden center or big box store, growing them from seed is easy and offers a range of varieties and colors.
Blooms are 2 to 6 inches long and will develop in hues of scarlet red, orange, bright yellow, cream, and pink. These multi-branching flowering plants will develop ten to 14 stems each.
Benefits
- Vivid color for your flower borders
- Easy to grow from seed
- Tolerant to different soil types
- Takes heat and drought easily
- Flowers provide plenty of surface area, making it a favorite of bees
Celosia Description
Celosia are an ornamental plant related to amaranth and similarly, they feature large fluffy flower spikes. They may have originated in African, but this is still speculation. It is grown for food in Indonesia, where it may have also evolved.
In most zones, Celosia are grown as annuals, but they can be perennial in extreme Southern Gardens in the U.S., such as Coastal and South Florida, the Keys, and Puerto Rico.
Blooms of the celosia varieties come in red, purple, orange, yellow, pink, maroon, and white. The shape of the flowers differentiate the three basic flower types: Crested, Plumed, and Spiked.
Celosia attract bees and other pollinators to the garden, which makes them a handy shoe-in as a companion plant for vegetables and fruits that need insect pollination to produce.
Tips for Germination
In warmer zones, sow directly into a well-watered garden spot and cover very lightly with soil once soil temperature has reached 70°F.
Otherwise, start 6 to 8 weeks before your last frost date. Provide a moist seed starting mix and surface sow seeds. Press gently into potting mix. Seeds require light to germinate, so do not cover. Mist to keep moist to avoid displacing seeds.
Germinates in 8 to 14 days.
Tips for Celosia Care
Plant in well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter, in full sun and water regularly and water in thoroughly.
Plants can reach between 2 to 4 feet tall. Pinch back to encourage branching. You may also need to stake some varieties.
Fertilize once a month during the growing season, or twice a month when rainfall is heavy (in spring or summer, as appropriate for your region).
For cut flowers, harvest when blooms are fully developed and open. To dry, remove all foliage and hang upside down in a dark, well-ventilated spot until fully dry.
To encourage blooms in the garden, deadhead spent flowers regularly.
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| Species Name: | Celosia Celosia Argentea Celosia Cristata Celosia Plumosa Celosia Spicata |
| Common name(s): | Celosia, Cockscomb, Prince of Wales Feather, Woolflowers |
| Defining Characteristics: | Brightly colored flower spikes of fuzzy blooms |
| Temperature requirement: | Germination: 70-75°F (heat loving) |
| Watering frequency: | Keeps seeds moist to germinate and soil moist until plant establishes, then water once or twice a week (drought tolerant) |
| Lighting: | Full sun |
| Soil type: | Well-draining with high organic matter |
| Growth rate: | Fast |
| Height: | 2-4 feet, depending on variety |
| Origin: | Unknown |
| USDA Hardiness Zone: | Perennial in Zones 10-12, Annual in cooler zones |
| Toxicity Notes: | For more information please visits the ASPCA list of Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants list of Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants |
| Common Pests: | aphids, spider mites |
| Common Problems: | Leaf spot, Root rot, fungal diseases. |
| Additional Notes: |