Annual / color · North Texas care guide
Celosia argentea
Nursery Pro tip: Velvet plumes that laugh at August. Great with mums for fall.
Velvety plumes or convoluted cockscomb heads in magenta, scarlet, orange and gold, holding their color for months and drying beautifully for arrangements. 10–30 in, thriving on heat that stops other annuals.
Full sun and good drainage; it dislikes soggy ground. Space 8–12 in apart.
Late April through May, into warm soil. Root Stimulator at planting, light mulch. A second planting in July gives fall color.
Weekly at the base. It tolerates dry better than wet.
Light feeding at planting and once more; over-fed celosia grows tall and flops.
Cut the main head when it starts to fade and side shoots produce more. Cut stems for drying when the color is at its peak and hang them upside down in the garage.
Root rot in wet soil; leaf spot in a humid spell with crowded plants. It reseeds freely — pull volunteers or enjoy them.
Hot-color summer beds with zinnias, marigolds and lantana; excellent in a cutting garden and in fall pots with mums.
Written for Rockwall's black clay, heat and winters by the Landscape Source team. Every yard is different — bring a photo by, or ask LS-Ai, and we'll tailor it to your spot.