Cockscomb Celosia Celosia argentea
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Celosia argentea var. cristata
- Celosia cristata
- Celosia plumosa
- Phonetic Spelling
- seh-LO-see-ah ar-jen-TEE-ah
- Description
-
Cockscomb is an annual herb that grows to a height of about 3' tall. This easy to grown plant makes an excellent cut flower. It prefers full fun, rich, moist, well-drained soil but tolerates poor, dry soil. The stems grow fast but tend to have a weak structure. The inflorescence absorbs water easily and becomes too heavy for weak stems in tall cultivar selections, causing bending or breakage. Staking the plants helps. Regular watering of the root zone is a must as a lack of water will make the leaves appear wilted. A trend in the green industry to address both of these problems in last few decades has been to select shorter members & move to dwarf selections.
Since inflorescence color does not come from the corolla, inflorescences can be cut, hung to dry, and it retains an attractive color when utilized as dried flowers or in floral arrangements.
This plant tolerates dry porous soils. Plant it in border fronts, edging, or cut flower gardens.
VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.
Quick ID Hints:
- Terminal inflorescence with cockscomb sometimes present
- Terminal plumose or finger-like spike inflorescence
- Inflorescence globose, resembling brain coral
Cultivar groups inflorescence:
Childsii Group - terminal inflorescence of globose, bosses consisting of numerous, congested cockscombs; bosses resembles brain coral.
Cristata Group - terminal inflorescence of several erect, flattened, broad, cristate cockscombs.
Nana Group - name not retained as there are several cultivar selections of dwarf forms in other groups.
Plumosa Group - terminal infloirescence of erect, tapering upward, plumose or feathery inflorescences; central axis bearing elongate lateral branches spreading ascending, branches getting shorter upward.
Spicata Group - metallic pink or yellow in slender heads; central axis bearing very short lateral branches; resembling one or more raised fingers.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious pest nor disease problems. Rain and high humidity will cause flowers to rot. This plant is frequently damaged by deer.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Jewel Box Mix'
- 'Jewel Box Mix'
- 'Jewel Box Mix'
- Tags:










- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Jewel Box Mix'
- 'Jewel Box Mix'
- 'Jewel Box Mix'
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Celosia
- Species:
- argentea
- Family:
- Amaranthaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Tropical Africa
- Wildlife Value:
- Attract Butterflys
- Edibility:
- Leaves, Young Shoots and Oil from Seeds
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 9 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Head
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Good Dried
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Irregular
- Flower Size:
- > 6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Terminal, spicate cymes, heavily bracteated, fasciated, cristate, of carentoid pigments of bold red to yellow.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Simple, alternate, linear-lanceolate to lanceolate-ovate.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Hanging Baskets
- Patio
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Dry Soil