Celosia: planting, maintenance, care

Plant ID card
Botanical name	Celosia argentea, Celosia plumosa.
Common name	Celosia.
Family	Amaranthaceae.
Origin	Intertropical zones of Africa, Asia, North and Central America.
Dimensions	Depending on the variety, celosia measures between 15 cm and 1.2 m.
Foliage	The pale green foliage of celosia is composed of oval and lanceolate leaves, measuring around ten centimeters.
Bloom	Particularly remarkable, the inflorescences of celosia take the appearance of erect plumes or cockscombs. They can measure up to 25 cm high. They take on shimmering colors, ranging from yellow to red, orange or cream. The flowering period of celosia is long since it extends from the beginning of summer until October.
Exposure	A fan of light and heat, celosia likes to be placed in full sun and sheltered from the wind.
Ground	To grow well, celosia needs to be planted in rich, well-drained and always fresh soil.
Rusticity	0°C.

Aerial feathers, sparkling flames, masses of velvet... The flowers of celosia are so original that they do not leave our imagination indifferent. They also look great in the garden but also in our interiors.

Is

Celosia

a houseplant?

Although it is frost-prone, celosia is an

outdoor plant

. You can grow it in the ground as an annual or grow it in a pot to be able to shelter it when temperatures start to drop. Take it out again in May, when all risk of frost has passed.

Where to place a

Celosia

?

To benefit from its beautiful flowering, you should carefully choose the location of the

Celosia

so that it meets its different needs.

• Location:

  to grow well,

  Celosia

  needs sun, heat and light. This is why we will reserve a sunny location sheltered from the wind. If you grow it indoors, place it near a source of natural light;

• Planting:

  outdoors, celosia adorns flower beds, borders of flower beds and pots. It also looks great when planted in a pot and placed on a balcony or terrace;

• Soil:

  to meet the needs of celosia, plant it in rich, well-drained, fresh soil.

How to take care of celosia?

Celosia requires regular maintenance, particularly because it fears cold and lack of water.

• Size:

  Celosia does not require any particular size. However, in order to prolong flowering, do not hesitate to cut off faded flowers as they appear;

• Watering:

  because it likes to be in cool soil but does not tolerate stagnant water well, water the celosia regularly but in small quantities. In summer, water it even more often, it can suffer from drought;

• Diseases and parasites:

  in the event of excessive watering, celosia can be subject to rot, particularly at its roots. It can also be targeted by aphids and red spiders, especially if it grows in a veranda or greenhouse. Observe your plant carefully regularly in order to act as quickly as possible to limit the infestation.

How to plant celosia in the ground?

If you have planted your Celosia in the ground, it will not withstand the winter as it is not a hardy plant at all. Copyright (c) 2024 Alicia97/Shutterstock. No use without permission.

From March, sow celosia seeds and place them

in a room heated

to around 18°. When the first leaves appear, transplant the seedlings into individual pots but keep them warm until the last frosts have passed. If you buy celosia in pots, wait until May to plant them. In fact, it is a frost-prone plant that cannot tolerate too cold temperatures.

How to keep a

Celosia

in winter?

If you have planted your

Celosia

in the ground, it will not withstand the winter as it is not a hardy plant at all. You can therefore pull out the plants after flowering. If you have planted it in a pot, shelter it in your home, in a veranda or in a greenhouse heated to around 18°.

Which variety of celosia to choose?

There are more than fifty varieties of

Celosia

, each more colorful than the last. Here are our favorite celosias:

• With its magnificent fuschia pink inflorescences,

  celosia 'Deep Purple Caracas'

  (

  Celosia argentea 'Deep Purple Caracas'

  ) does not go unnoticed! It immediately gives a graphic note to our gardens or our interiors.

• Because they evoke large golden yellow feathers, the inflorescences of the

  'Century Yellow' celosia

  (

  Celosia argentea 'Century Yellow'

  ) are quite remarkable. A real ray of sunshine to illuminate your interior or garden.

• We love celosia

  'Kurume'

  (

  Celosia argentea 'Kurume'

  ), whose beautiful compact inflorescences can take on variegated shades.