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Common Name: Plume Cockscombs
Scientific Name: Celosia argentea 'Plumosa'
Family: Amaranthaceae
Serendipity Ranch
Columbus, North Carolina
June 4, 2002
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Richly colored tropical plants, some with flower clusters in bizarre shapes. Although attractive in cut arrangements with other flowers, in gardens celosias are most effective by themselves. Two kinds of cockscombs are derived from this species, which has silvery white flowers and narrow leaves to 2 inches or longer. One group, the plume cockscombs (often sold as C. 'Plumosa'), has plumy flower clusters. Some of these (sometimes sold as Chinese woolflower or Celosia 'Childsii'), have flower clusters that look like tangled masses of yarn. Flowers come in brilliant shades of pink, orange red, gold, crimson. You can get 2-1/2 to 3-feet high forms or dwarf, more compact selections. The latter grow about 1 foot high and bear heavily branched plumes. The other group is the crested cockscombs (often sold as Celosia 'Cristata'). These have velvety, fan-shaped flower clusters, often much contorted and fluted. Flowers are yellow, orange, crimson, purple, and red. Tall kinds grow to 3 feet, dwarf types to 10 inches high. [Bender, Steve, Southern Living Garden Book, The. Oxmoor House, Inc., Book Division of Southern Progress Corporation, Birmingham, 1998]
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Alphabetical Listings -- A B C D, E F G H I, J, K L M N, O P Q, R S T U, V W X, Y, Z
Family Listings -- A B C D, E F G H I, J, K L M N, O P Q, R S T U, V W X, Y, Z
Genus Listings -- A B C D, E F G H I, J, K L M N, O P Q, R S T U, V W X, Y, Z