Botanical Name: Celosia argentea var. cristata
Family: Amaranthaceae
Native: Exact origin unknown, possibly India
Hardiness: Frost-sensitive perennial, hardy in USDA zones 10 and warmer.
Plant Dimensions: 16"–30" tall and about 8" wide
Variety Information: 2"–7", red, globe-shaped flowers.
Bloom Period: Blooms about 70 days from germination, summer into fall and possibly until frost.
Attributes: Attracts Pollinators, Cut Flower, Drought Tolerant, Heat Tolerant
When to Sow Outside: Within 2 weeks after your average last frost date, when soil is at least 60°F.
When to Start Inside: RECOMMENDED. 6 to 8 weeks before your average last frost date.
Days to Emerge: 7–14 Days
Seed Depth: Surface to ⅛"
Seed Spacing: A pinch of seeds every 8"
Thinning: When 2" tall, thin to 1 every 8"
Harvesting: For cut or dried flowers, pick when the plumes are the right size for your purpose but before they go to seed. Flowers can last up to 2 weeks in a vase. If drying, hang flowers upside down for a couple of weeks until stems are stiff and dry.
