Plumed cockscomb Facts for Kids

Celosia argentea, often called the plumed cockscomb or silver cock's comb, is a colorful plant that comes from warm, tropical parts of the world. It's known for its very bright flowers. In countries like India and China, it can sometimes grow wild where it's not wanted, acting like a weed.

Quick facts for kids Plumed cockscomb

Scientific classification
Genus:	Celosia
Species:	argentea
Synonyms
Synonyms list Amaranthus cristatus Noronha Amaranthus huttonii H.J.Veitch Amaranthus purpureus Nieuwl. Amaranthus pyramidalis Noronha Celosia aurea T.Moore Celosia castrensis L. Celosia coccinea L. Celosia comosa Retz. Celosia cristata L. Celosia debilis S.Moore Celosia huttonii Mast. Celosia japonica Houtt. Celosia japonica Mart. Celosia margaritacea L. Celosia marylandica Retz. Celosia pallida Salisb. Celosia plumosa (Voss) Burv. Celosia purpurea J.St.-Hil. Celosia purpurea A.St.-Hil. ex Steud. Celosia pyramidalis Burm.f. Celosia splendens Schumach. & Thonn. Celosia swinhoei Hemsl. Chamissoa margaritacea (L.) Schouw.

About the Celosia Plant
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About the Celosia Plant

What Does it Look Like?

Celosia argentea is a soft plant that lives for only one growing season. It's often grown in gardens because it's so pretty. Its flowers bloom from mid-spring through summer. You can grow new plants from its tiny seeds. These seeds are incredibly small, with about 43,000 seeds in just one ounce! The flowers of this plant have both male and female parts, which means they can produce seeds on their own.

How to Grow Celosia

Since these plants come from warm places, they love lots of sunshine. They need at least 8 hours of direct sunlight each day to grow well. It's best to plant them in soil that drains water easily. To keep them healthy, try to plant them where they get morning sun but some shade in the afternoon. Afternoon sun can be very strong, especially in hot summers, so a little shade helps protect the plant from too much heat. The colorful flowerheads can stay beautiful for up to 8 weeks. If you remove the flowers that have died, it can encourage the plant to grow even more new blooms.

Different Kinds of Celosia

There are many different types, or cultivars, of Celosia argentea. One type is called Celosia argentea var. cristata 'Flamingo Feathers'. This plant can grow up to 2 feet tall and has lovely pink to light purple flowers. Its leaves are a darker green than other types.

The 'Century' cultivars are usually taller, growing about 1 to 2 feet high. They come in bright colors like red, yellow, orange, or pink. If you're looking for smaller plants, the 'Kimono' cultivars are generally only 4 inches to 1 foot tall. Their colors are similar to the 'Century' types but are a bit softer. You can also find Celosia in other colors, such as white, burgundy, and orange-red. Some varieties can even grow as tall as 3 to 4 feet!

Celosia plumosa, also known as Prince of Wales feathers, is another name for Celosia argentea. Sometimes, you might buy seeds that are a mix of different types.

Some types of Celosia have won a special award called the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. This award means they are excellent plants for gardens. Here are some of the award-winning types (as of 2017):

C. argentea var. cristata (Plumosa Group) 'Smart Look Red'
C. argentea var. cristata (Plumosa Group) 'Fresh Look Orange' (Fresh Look Group)
C. argentea var. cristata (Plumosa Group) 'Glow Red'
C. argentea var. cristata (Plumosa Group) 'Century Rose' (Century Group)
C. argentea var. cristata (Spicata Group) 'Flamingo Feather'

What is Celosia Used For?

In Africa, Celosia is used to help control a harmful plant called Striga, which can damage other crops. Celosia can also be used to make soap.

Celosia as Food

The leaves and flowers of Celosia are safe to eat! People grow them for food in Africa and Southeast Asia. One type, Celosia argentea var. argentea, is a popular green leafy vegetable in West Africa. It's often boiled and is known as soko yòkòtò in the Yoruba language or farar áláyyafó in the Hausa language.

Images for kids

Silver cockscomb Celosia argentea
Celosia argentea. 2018 Taichung World Flora Exposition, Taiwan.
Celosia cristata
Plumed cockscomb flower and an insect on it.
Around the fields in Hyderabad, India
Celosia argentea. 2018 Taichung World Flora Exposition, Taiwan.
Colored varieties used as ornamental plant in the Botanical Garden of Curitiba, Southern Brazil

Plumed cockscomb facts for kids

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