Perpetua Celosia globosa
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- se-LO-see-uh gloh-BOH-suh
- Description
-
Globe Amaranth is an annual or tender herbaceous perennial in the Amaranthaceae (buckwheat) family, native to central and west-central Africa. It has an erect, sometime straggly, form with branches that can reach 30 inches long. The flowers are a brownish-yellow. The genus name comes from the Greek word kḗleos meaning burning and refers to the flame-like flowers.
Globe Amaranth tolerates most soils except heavy clay and does not like wet feet. It is best grown in full sun and well-drained soils. These plants are showy and long blooming and add a splash of color when planted en masse or as an accent in the garden and also do well in pots. They often will readily reseed so deadhead if this is not desirable. This plant tolerates dry porous soils and thrives in heat and humidity. Plant it in border fronts, edging, or cut flower gardens. Celosia species do reseed, they should be sited in a location where their reappearance every year is not unwanted. To prevent reseeding, you can cut off the blooms before seeds appear.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Resistant to most diseases and pests but mites, leaf spots, and stem rot can occur. The biggest problem stems from too wet soils and cold weather.
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.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Arrabona Red'
Red-orange flowers - ‘Sparkler Orange’
Orange flowers
- 'Arrabona Red'
- 'Arrabona Red', ‘Sparkler Orange’
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Arrabona Red'
Red-orange flowers - ‘Sparkler Orange’
Orange flowers
- 'Arrabona Red'
- 'Arrabona Red', ‘Sparkler Orange’
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Celosia
- Species:
- globosa
- Family:
- Amaranthaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- It is used as animal food, a poison and a medicine, has environmental uses and social uses and for food.
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Nigeria to Uganda
- Distribution:
- Central west Africa
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Colorful
- Easy to Grow
- Edibility:
- Young leaves can be eaten and have a spinach-like flavor. Young stems and flowers can be used in stews.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 4 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Good Dried
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Irregular
- Flower Description:
- Terminal, spicate cymes, heavily bracteated, fasciated. Blooms from late spring to first frost.
-
-
Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Simple, alternate, linear-lanceolate to lanceolate-ovate leaves, light green in color but darker on flowering shoots.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Description:
- Multi-branched.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Hanging Baskets
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Cutting Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Humidity