Grow Cockscomb Flowers for a Stunning Garden Addition
If you're looking for a flower that'll stop people in their tracks, that can be added to any DIY bouquet, that looks absolutely unique, you may want to make some space in your garden for cockscomb flowers.
Cockscomb flowers are a type of celosia, a plant with unique inflorescences—a.k.a. many-flowered spikes. These unusual-looking flowers come in three varieties, all of which are perfect for landscape beds and cutting gardens: Plumosa, a type that looks feathery; Spicata, a type that resembles wheat; and Cockscomb, which looks almost like coral.
Cockscomb got its common name because some varieties of this plant flower in a thin, wavy line that resembles a rooster’s comb. Newer varieties have been bred for larger flower heads, and some are so big, now, that they often need to be staked to stay upright.
Cockscomb makes an excellent cut flower, lasting about a week in a vase. It dries well, too.
This long-blooming annual puts on a vibrant show of pink, yellow, red or burgundy flowers from mid-summer until a hard frost. (Find more of our favorite annuals here.) All types of celosia are easy to grow from seed, so it’s an excellent addition to your flower garden, landscape beds, and containers for long-season color and for both fresh and dried arrangements.
Cockscomb Basic Info:
Common Name: Cockscomb, crested celosia
Botanical Name: Celosia argentea
Plant Family: Amaranthaceae
Type of Plant: Annual, though may be perennial in USDA zones 10 and 11
Native Origin: India and Nepal
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Mature Size: 9 to 36 inches tall and wide
Toxic to pets: No
How to Care for Cockscomb
Cockscomb aren’t super-picky about soil types, though they tend to do best in rich, well-drained soils. They can tolerate poor soils, too, but will need watering to keep the plant strong and prevent wilting.
Many new types have such heavy flower heads that they require staking, though breeders have developed new dwarf types that are less likely to droop.
How to Grow Cockscomb
Cockscomb is not difficult to grow, as long as you give it plenty of direct sunlight and don’t overwater. Their long-season blooms make them a great reason to include them in your garden’s design.
Light
Choose a spot in full sun, which is considered 6 or more hours of direct sunlight per day. (Got a shady spot? Try these shade annuals instead.)
Soil
Cockscomb adapt to most soil types. But well-draining soils are essential because they do not tolerate wet feet, such as in clay. They will develop fungal diseases in soil that stays too wet.
Water
These plants benefit from a regular watering schedule, especially if you have not had rain for more than a week. Water when the top inch or two of soil feels dry. Keep the water off the foliage when possible, watering at the base of the plant to reduce the risk of fungal disease.
Temperature and Humidity
Cockscomb tolerates heat and humidity well. Fertilize the plants monthly with a fertilizer that contains a higher phosphorous than nitrogen content, if possible, to push new blooms.
Pests and Problems with Cockscomb
Cockscombsd rarely have pest issues. The main risk is that the plants get top-heavy, which can be remedied with staking, or by purchasing dwarf varieties that have been bred to be shorter and more compact. It also may develop fungal diseases if kept too wet.
How to Grow Cockscomb from Seed
Growing from seed allows you to choose from many more varieties than you can find at the local nursery. You can direct seed into your garden after all threat of frost has passed, but you will have better results if you start seeds indoors 8 to 10 weeks before the last average frost date in your area (Learn how to start seeds indoors here).
Plant the seeds 1/4-inch deep, keeping moist until germination. Seeds should sprout in about 7 to 10 days. Be careful to allow the planting medium to dry out between waterings because celosia seedlings are susceptible to dampening off, a type of fungal disease. Transplant seedlings outdoors when all threat of frost has passed or when soil temperatures are 55 degrees F or warmer.
How to Propagate Cockscomb
If you are growing one of the new varieties, you cannot legally propagate those that are protected by patents. Patents, which last 20 years, protect the time and money breeders put into creating a new plant, which typically takes 6 to 8 years.
Look at the plant tag or description: Many of the newer plants are sold under a specific name and are registered with the U.S. Patent Office. They also may have a TM or ® symbol indicating trademark registration as well, which confers additional legal protection.
However, older types, which have been around for decades can be propagated by stem cuttings. Cut off a piece of stem that’s a few inches tall. Strip off the bottom leaves, dip the end in rooting hormone, then insert into moist potting medium in a container with drainage holes. It will take a few weeks to root. If you can tug on it and feel resistance, it has roots and can be transplanted into a larger pot or garden bed.
How to Dry Cockscomb
All varieties can be air-dried by tying a few stems together, then hanging them upside down in a cool dark location for several weeks, such as inside a closet in a guest room. (Here’s how to dry flowers.)
Types of Cockscomb
‘Cramer’s Burgundy’ has striking dark pink to red heads.
‘Supercrest’ has head that are 12 inches or larger across when left to grow for a month after they first start flowering.
‘Chief Rose’ has a hot pink crest that looks incredible in mixed bouquets.
‘Fan Dance Scarlet’ has unusual-looking wide fan-shaped crests that bloom ear
Why Trust Us?
I'm a garden writer with more than 15 years of experience growing houseplants, herbs and edibles, and landscape plantings. My houseplant collection includes 60+ plants, while my expansive garden includes new annuals, perennials and shrubs that I trial for performance and reliability. Cockscomb is one of my favorite annuals for its transparent “wow” factor.
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