Incredibly showy, Celosia is prized by gardeners for its flamboyant summer flowers. Blooming its heart out over a long season, this tropical annual or perennial plant is easy to grow, tolerates heat and humidity, and attracts beneficial insects to the garden.
What is Celosia?
Celosia is a genus of edible and ornamental plants in the amaranth family, Amaranthaceae, native to tropical regions of Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia.
Description: Known for their vibrant, feathery flowers, Celosia species are striking plants that bring a bold pop of color to any setting. The flowers come in a variety of bright colors, including red, orange, yellow, pink, and purple.
Growth Habit & Size: Depending on the variety, Celosia can be a compact plant suitable for edging or containers or a larger plant that fits well in borders or beds. Heights can range from 6 inches (15 cm) to 4 feet (100 cm) or more, and the plants usually have a bushy, upright growth habit.
Flowers: Celosia flowers are vibrant and velvety with unique shapes. The three main types – plumosa, cristata, and spicata – have plume-like, brain-like, or spike-like flowers, respectively.
Foliage: The leaves are generally lance-shaped or oval, and they can be green, reddish, or bronze, depending on the variety.
Blooming Season: Celosia blooms from late spring through fall, often continuing until the first frost.
Hardiness: Celosia is typically grown as an annual, but it is a tender perennial in USDA zones 10 and 11.
Uses: Celosia is widely used in ornamental horticulture, with applications ranging from borders and beds to containers and hanging baskets. The vibrant flowers not only look great in the garden but also make excellent cut flowers. They can also be dried and used in arrangements.
Edible: While Celosia is mostly grown for its flowers, it is also 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.
Pollinators: Bees, butterflies, and other pollinators are attracted to the brightly colored flowers, making this plant a valuable addition to the vegetable garden.
Toxicity: Celosia is non-toxic to humans and pets.
Deer and Rabbit. Deer and rabbits love the plant.
Drought: Once established, Celosia has good drought tolerance, although it prefers regular watering for optimal growth and blooming.
Invasiveness: Some species can self-seed prolifically and may become invasive in certain conditions or regions.
Despite their exotic appearance, Celosias are easy to grow, making them a gardener’s favorite.
Celosia, with its extravagant summer blooms, is highly valued for its captivating display. This tropical annual or perennial plant thrives in heat and humidity, attracting beneficial insects. It is easy to grow, making it a popular choice for cut flowers that bring long-lasting beauty to both vases and everlasting bouquets.
Celosia, with its extravagant summer blooms, is highly valued for its captivating display. This tropical annual or perennial plant thrives in heat and humidity, attracting beneficial insects. It is easy to grow, making it a popular choice for cut flowers that bring long-lasting beauty to both vases and everlasting bouquets.
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.