Annual
Celosia / Cockscomb
Celosia argentea · Amaranthaceae
Also called: Cockscomb, Plumed celosia (var. plumosa), Crested cockscomb (var. cristata), Wheat celosia (var. spicata), Woolflower
Celosia / Cockscomb (Celosia argentea) is a low-water annual well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It thrives in full sun, with a fast growth rate.
Celosia / Cockscomb at a glance
- Water use
- Low (established)
- Sun
- Full sun (6+ hours) for strongest color and sturdiest plumes; tolerates reflected heat well.
- Mature size
- Dwarf bedding types 6-12 in; standard and cut-flower types 1-3+ ft tall
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Bloom
- Brilliant red, magenta, pink, orange, yellow, and gold (plumed, crested 'brain', or spike forms), Late spring through fall (May to frost); a dependable heat- and monsoon-season bloomer in Tucson.
- Cold hardiness
- Frost-tender and heat-loving; killed by frost. One of the better annuals for sustained summer and monsoon-season color in the low desert.
- Soil
- Fertile, well-drained soil amended with compost; tolerates alkaline desert soil but needs good drainage to avoid rot.
- Native range
- Tropical Africa, Asia, and the Americas; grown as a warm-season annual in Tucson
- Best used as
- Hot-summer color beds and borders, Cut flowers, Dried flowers (excellent everlasting), Containers, Pollinator gardens
- Wildlife
- Attracts bees and butterflies; seeds feed birds. The young leaves are edible (grown as a leaf vegetable in parts of Africa and Asia).
- Toxicity
- Non-toxic to pets and people; foliage is actually edible. Safe around dogs, cats, and children.
How to grow Celosia / Cockscomb in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Plant in late spring once soil is warm (April-May, into early summer). Water deeply 2-3 times per week; let the surface dry between waterings (it dislikes soggy soil and is prone to root rot in cool, wet conditions). Holds up to heat once established.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Moderate feeder. Amend with compost; apply a balanced fertilizer at planting and feed every 3-4 weeks with a bloom fertilizer for the largest, most colorful flower heads. Avoid excess nitrogen.
Pruning & care
Deadhead or cut spent plumes to encourage rebloom and a tidy look; pinch young plants for branching. Crested types can be cut for long-lasting fresh or dried arrangements.
Notes
A top heat- and monsoon-tolerant summer annual for Tucson, recommended alongside vinca and zinnia for color that lasts through the hottest months. Wait for warm soil before planting; cool, wet starts cause stem/root rot. Plumed (plumosa), crested/cockscomb (cristata), and wheat (spicata) forms are all the same species.
Sources: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension - Pima County Monthly Gardening Guides (May); Growing in the Garden - Arizona Annual Flowers Low-Desert Guide; Arizona Master Gardener annual flower references