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Celosia argentea Cristata ‘Variegata’ | Cockscomb Variegated
Pronounced see·low·zhuh (from the Greek kelos, "burnt," referring to the fiery colors)
Pronounced AR-gen-tea-uh
Pronounced cris-TA-tah
Amaranthaceae family (Amaranth Family) (Pronounced AM-ar-an-THAY-see-eye)
Celosia argentea come in two varieties, being cristata and plumosa.
The cristata are called cockscomb and have a fan shape or brain-like flower. Cristata means 'crested' like the comb on a rooster. To me, they look very odd! The flowers are velvety smooth which is fun.
The plumosa variety looks like feathery flames or feather plumes.
Celosia spicata look like wheat stalks.
My variegated variety has only a few that are variegated, which is better described as bicolor. All of my plants came from the same seed packet, but some are all yellow or all magenta, as well as bicolor, making the word 'multicolor' seem more appropriate.
Cockscomb come in varieties from 8 inches to 4 feet tall. Mine are really tall at 6 feet! I really need to pay attention to the different varieties and descriptions next year and get some seeds to some plants that stay shorter.
Deadheading will encourage more blooms or simply cutting them for vases before they go to seed will encourage more blooms. They go to seed after the bottom portion of the comb blooms out, so be sure to cut them before they reach the bottom of the comb.
The make great dried flowers for vases and wreaths. Hang them upside down to dry.
I read that the flowers and the stems are edible.
From website: This variety was described as a beautiful and unusual floral oddity in The Country Gentleman’s Magazine, a British periodical from 1874.
For a funny aside, every time I see the word Celosia, my brain says cellulose!
It is late summer and the crisp air is coming on and the flies just seem to love my Cockscomb.
I looked this up and it is a Goldenrod Soldier Beatle.