Celosia Argentea
Facts About the Celosia Argentea
The celosia argentea, which is also referred to more frequently as plumed cockscomb or the feathery amaranth, is a tropical plant that is well known for its vivid colors. It is a branching annual with oval leaves that contain a multitude of tiny flowers that are densely packed into beautifully colored flower heads. Many gardeners prefer to grow them not only due to their bright hues, but also for the fact that the flower heads themselves can last up to 8 weeks and even longer if the dead flower heads are removed.
There are several different varieties of the celosia argentea. The Kimono cultivars are usually small and range anywhere from 4 inches to 1 foot. Their colors tend to be more subdued and are generally creamy white, pink, rose, and red. On the other hand, the Century cultivars can grow as tall as 2 feet and have very vivid colors which can include pink, red, orange, and yellow. In addition, there are some varieties of this plant that can grow up to 4 feet in height.
The Plumosa cultivars are one of the most interesting varieties of this plant since their flower heads resemble small Christmas trees. They only grow to be about 10 inches tall. The Apricot Brandy, however, can grow to 20 inches and is orange.
The celosia argentea is propagated by very small seeds which can be up to 43,000 seeds per ounce. Since the plants are tropical, they do best when planted and grown in full sunlight. In Africa and Southeast Asia the flowers are considered edible and are sometimes grown for this purpose. In Africa, the plant is often grown to help control of the growth of the Striga plant, a parasite.
In other places, it is often grown because it can grow in large quantities and does not require a lot of upkeep. Even those people who do not consider themselves to have green thumbs can often have good experiences with the celosia argentea due to the fact that once planted, it can take care of itself as long as the dead heads are picked off from time to time.
The Plumosas can be used to edge in front of taller plants, although you have to be careful to make sure that their dramatic colors don’t clash with the other plants. The Cristata, however, look very nice in containers.
When planting, it is important to plant them in soil that is well-drained and possibly supplemented with compost. The seeds can be started indoors in the spring and then transplanted once the threat of frost is over. They generally produce blooms in summer and continue to bloom throughout the fall.
Of course, the seeds can also be planted directly outside, too. They should be spaced about 12 to15 inches apart if they are of the tall variety, while the smaller ones can be placed 6 to 8 inches apart. Until the plants are well established they should be watered well. However, after that they really only need to be watered once a week unless the weather gets extremely hot. If the soil already has compost in it, then extra fertilizer shouldn’t be needed.
Once they have bloomed, the celosia argentea make beautifully cut flowers and can also be dried and used for other purposes. When dried, if done so quickly, they will keep their color and not disintegrate. They will last indefinitely and therefore can look very nice in wreathes and wall-hangings, as well as in other arrangements. The varieties that produce the brilliant colors are particularly lovely when cut and placed in vases.