• These easy-to-grow, warm-season annual plants are perennial in hardiness zones 10-11.
   
• Celosia blooms from late spring or early summer into fall, sometimes until frost.
   
• Celosia is an unfussy plant. It performs best in full sun or light shade in humus-rich, moderately fertile, consistently moist, well-drained soils. Thrives in heat and humidity and tolerates dry soils and drought once established.
   
• Celosia adds a splash of color to beds and borders, containers, cottage gardens, and cutting gardens. Good edging plant too.
   
• Bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects are drawn to the flowers, making Celosia a valuable addition to the vegetable garden.
   
• Celosia flowers can be cut for arrangements or dried as an everlasting bouquet.
   
• While Celosia is mostly grown for its flowers, Celosia is edible. Leaves, tender stems, and young flower spikes can be eaten boiled, or cooked in sauce or stew with other ingredients. The leaves are a nutritious addition to the vegetable garden. They contain high levels of beta-carotene and folic acid.
   
• Celosia is propagated only from seed.
   
• Celosia are low-maintenance plants and few pests or diseases bother them. Deer love Celosia.

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Planting Celosia

When?

• Seeds can be sown directly in the garden after your last spring frost date. Soil temperatures should ideally be between 70-75°F (21-25°C).
• Alternatively, start seeds indoors about 6-8 weeks before the last frost.
• Celosia germinates quickly, sprouting within 8-14 days and blooming in about 90-120 days.

Where?

• Celosia can be grown as annual plants in hardiness zones 2-11 or as tender perennials in hardiness zones 10-11.
• Celosia performs best in full sun (8 hours of sunlight daily) or light shade in humus-rich, moderately fertile, consistently moist, well-drained soils.
• To improve drainage, incorporate compost or sand into heavy soils.
• Celosia thrives in heat and humidity and tolerates dry soils and drought once established.
• Celosia is a great choice for beds and borders, edging, containers, cottage gardens, and cutting gardens. Plant your Celosia in a sheltered location.
• Bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects are drawn to the flowers, making Celosia a valuable addition to the vegetable garden.
• Celosias looks best planted in groups or drifts and is a good companion plant for Ageratum (Floss Flower), Angelonia (Snapdragon), Tagetes (Marigold), Tropaeolum (Nasturtium), Zinnia.
• Celosia also makes a good indoor plant (conservatory, porch, or greenhouse), but preferably not in centrally heated rooms.

How?

• When sowing directly into the garden, clear the area of weeds, then rake the surface to a fine, crumbly texture.
• It is more successful to start the Celosia seeds indoors.
• Set the seed on the soil surface. Do not cover with soil because Celosia needs light to sprout.
• Keep your newly sown Celosia at 70-75°F°F (21-25°C).
• Keep the soil moist until the seeds sprout, which should take about 8-14 days.
• When the plants are 3-5 in. tall (7-12 cm) and nighttime temperatures outdoors are at least 55°F (13°C), harden them off by setting them outside in the shade for a few hours each day, gradually increasing the time and sunlight over 7-10 days.
• Transplant to the garden
• Once plants reach 8-12 inches tall (20-30 cm), pinch out the tip of the center stem to encourage more branching.

Click here to compare all Celosia varieties

Caring for Celosia Flowers

Water and Moisture

• Celosia is somewhat drought tolerant but will perform better in moist soil. 
• Water regularly throughout the growing season.
• Do not overwater. Too much water can kill the plant. Only water when the top 1-2 inches (2-5 cm) of soil are dry.

Fertilizer

• Feed with a  balanced liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks

Deadheading / Pruning

• Deadheading will promote more blooms.
• If the flowers are not deadheaded, the plants may self-sow.
• Stake taller cockscomb varieties to prevent the stem from breaking as the large flower head develops.

Harvesting

• Celosia flowers are beautiful fresh, and excellent in dried flower arrangements and bouquets.
• Harvest flowers when they are fully developed and before they begin to make seed.
• Make the first cut of the central stem almost at ground level. This sets up the plant to produce more strong, tall stems.
• Keep the attractive foliage on the top third of the stem. 
• Celosia flowers have a long vase life - 10 to 14 days. 
• Celosia flowers can be dried easily if hung upside down. They retain a pretty color.

Propagating

• Celosia is propagated easily from seed.

Pest and Diseases

• Celosia has no serious pest or disease issues. However, some problems may occasionally occur:
• Root rot: Too much water will cause yellowing foliage, rotting stems, or collapsing growth. 
• When grown as a houseplant, it is susceptible to infestation by aphids and spider mites, which can be washed off.