Celosia sp.
/By : Marke Nava
5’ tall Celosia spicata at the SFA Shade Garden
Celosia sp.: Celosia is a member of the Amaranthaceae family, its natural range includes part of Mexico and Central America, tropical parts of Africa, and various parts of the Asian continent. In the U.S., Celosia is a tender perennial in zones 10 and 11 and will not tolerate temperatures below freezing; thus, this genus is an annual in northern zones. Celosia prefer full to partial sun which makes it a viable option for most parts of Texas.
1.5’ tall Celosia spicata at my home
The Celosia genus is a herbaceous annual genus with an array of sizes including dwarf members topping out at 1 foot as well as very tall members such as varieties of Celosia spicata that can reach a height of over 5 feet; however, most members are roughly 6 to 18 inches tall (A Cut bouquet favorite., 2016). Perhaps the most identifiable feature of the Celosia genus is their up-right, fuzzy, colorful inflorescences, coming in a range of colors and textures including flamingo pink, burgundy red, yellow, orange, deep purple, fire red, and several other colors and hues. However, the spike type inflorescence is not all this wonderfully diverse genus has to offer; certain varieties of Celosia, namely Celosia argentea var. cristata, have a crested inflorescence shape and also come in a wide array of colors and hues (Celosia, crested, 2009). Although C. spicata and C. plumosa appear similar they can be easy to tell apart once side by side, where C. spicata’s inflorescence is a simple spike type that has a narrow overall form, C. plumosa is a panicle and is much more fluffy and feathery with a wide inflorescence base and a narrow top.
The same celosia at SFA gardens, showing color matched stem and veins.
Another identifying feature of Celosia is their tendency to have color matched stems as well as color matching leaf shading, as is prevalent is Celosia spicata. An overarching feature of Celosia is their leaf shape and arrangement, which are most often simple, lanceolate shaped leaves, feature arcuate venation,and are arranged in a alternate format. Celosia offers a wide array of low maintenance, no fuss specimens to add color to any garden; moreover, their inflorescences dry easily and retain their colors well. Furthermore, not only can Celosia saturate the eyes with their lush and vivid colors, their leaves contain several vitamins and minerals found in other dark leafy “table vegetables”. The leaves are often harvested and mixed into salads in parts of Asia and Africa. However, it is recommended that the leaves meant to be consumed are harvested while they are still young and tender as they turn bitter once the plant has reached its flowering stage (Suwak 2019). Clearly, Celosia is an excellent addition to gardens of any experience level; for beginners, this genus offers bright eye-catching inflorescences that require little maintenance and prep work, while for the more experienced gardener this genus offers almost unlimited creative potential for color schemes and arrangements.
leaves from this Celosia were very bitter when the picture was taken but had a milder flavor earlier in the year.
Works Cited
A Cut Bouquet Favorite, Celosia Comes in Several Unique Varieties. (2016, February) Retrieved September 14, 2020, from https://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/annual/celosia/
Celosia, crested. (2006). Retrieved September 14, 2020, from http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/homegardening/scenede70.html
Suwak, M. (2019, December 11). How to Grow Crazy, Colorful Celosia Flowers. Retrieved September 14, 2020, from https://gardenerspath.com/plants/annuals/celosia/
