Celosia Types

Crested

• The crested variety of celosia is the one that most resembles an actual cock's comb. This variety does not get very tall, staying under 12 inches in most cases. The flowering part of the plant is vibrantly colored in shades of red, purple, yellow or orange and the stems of the plant will also take on the color of the blossom. The foliage is bright green. This variety can be sown directly into the soil or transplanted and is very hardy.

Plumes

• Plume type celosia grow much taller, often reaching heights in excess of 18 inches. Rather than the densely packed flower of the crested type, the plumed variety features flowers that are feathery in nature and quite long. The colors for this variety are not quite as vibrant and range from red, purple or pink. This variety does well if started indoors first and transplanted once the seedling is about 4 to 5 inches in height.

Spikes

• The spike variety of celoisa combines the two elements of the crested and the plumed varieties into one plant. The flowers fall in between densely packed and feathery and will typically reach 4 to 5 inches in length, while the entire plant will be anywhere from 12 to 16 inches in height. The flower colors for spike celosia range from bright yellow and red to more pastel hues of blue, pink and purple. This is a very hardy variety that can be directly sown into the ground.

Planting Celosia

• Starting celosia indoors gives you a chance to see what colors the final flowers will be before you plant them outdoors. This is a very handy way to color match, especially if you are planting a mix of colors. The stems for the flowers show the color the mature plant will have and can be separated into groups. Celosia can survive as container plants, but are best suited to rock gardens or flower beds, particularly the taller varieties that need more space than a container can provide.