Cockscomb Celosia Celosia argentea

Celosia argentea [C. cristata, C. splendens, C. argentea var. cristata]

Annual herb 3' tall. Good cut flower; prefers rich, moist, well-drained soil but tolerates poor, dry soil; easy to grow; rain and high humidity will cause flowers to rot. This plant is frequently damaged by deer.

Quick ID Hints:

• Terminal inflorescence with cockscomb sometimes present
• Terminal plumose or finger-like spike inflorescence
• Inflorescence globose, resembling brain coral

Stem growth fast, but weak structured; inflorescence absorbs water & becomes too heavy for weak stem in tall cultivar selections, causing bending or beakage, thus, requiring staking of stem; lack of water and leaves appear wilted, thus a water guzzler to keep stalk & leaves looking well; trend to address both problems in last few decades has been to select shorter members & move to dwarf selections. 

Since inflorescence color not from the corolla, inflorescences can be cut, hung to dry, and retain attractive color when utilized as dried flowers or in floral arrangements. 

Prefers full sun; tolerates drought and dry porous soils; utilized in bedding, borders, edging, cut flowers, dried flowers, floral arrangements; no serious pest nor disease problems.

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; resembing one or more raised fingers.