10:50 PM Sun, Oct 25, 2009 | Permalink
Pat Feinstein  Email
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Celosia, a tender annual, is supposed to be about 1 to 3 feet tall.
8/05
The celosia in my yard is way beyond 6 feet already... and this is the third generation of celosia from the single plant I purchased at my first visit to the spring annual Southside Land Trust plant sale back in May 2007.
10.25.09
Celosia is grown in tropical Asia and parts of the world where the climate is warm. I have had them off and on over the years and most of them have their blooming period during the summer. However this very tall species is still thriving in the cold weather.
9/08
There are two types of celosia - one resembles a cock's comb, called cockscomb or woolflowers because of the wooly flower heads, and the other one is like a feather plume -- soft and fluffy.
I don't have much luck with cockscombs, but my feather ones are just beautiful -- tall, strong, healthy-looking and they keep on producing multiple offspring every year.
Late last fall a woman stopped the car in front of my yard to ask, "What's the name of that tree? Yes, my celosia looks more like a tree than a flowering plant. The main stem is at least 1½ inches in diameter at the base.
I usually bring some celosia indoors to enjoy them as cut flowers. They can also be dried to use in floral arrangements.
10.25.09
Celosia attracts bees. I left some flowers untouched to dry up and to become a precursor for the next generation celosia.
Celosia belongs in the Amaranthaceae family.
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Was reviewing the material on Celosia. Truly a beautiful plant. It reminds me somewhat of Salvia, which I have good luck with although it does not grow nearly as tall and I suspect belongs in a different family.
I hope this comment reaches you. Here I go ! ! !
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Yes - the comment came through.
Right - salvia belongs in the Lamiaceae (mint) family with many, many species in the genus.
I never had much luck with the red salvia, but have better luck with the blue and purple onee and there were some left in my front garden as of last week.
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