Woolflowers Celosia

Cock's comb is a genus of edible and ornamental herbaceous annuals and perennials in the amaranth family (Amaranthaceae) native to Africa, North and South America. The name comes from the Greek word kḗleos meaning burning and refers to the flame-like flowers.

Celosia tolerates most soils except heavy clay and does not like wet feet. They do best grown in full sun and well-drained soils. They often will readily reseed so deadhead if this is not desirable. Seeds can be started indoors and planted after the last frost.

There are three main types: plumed, wheat and cockscomb. The flowers range in shape as plumes to crested and colors and can be yellow, white, orange, pink and red. The leaves, stems and flower buds of some are edible and the wheat types have seed heads considered a pseudo-cereal. Young leaves have a spinach-like flavor but become bitter with age.

Garden varieties are showy long-blooming annuals that add a splash of color when planted en masse or as an accent in the garden and also do well in pots.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Cleosias are 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.