Plume Celosia (Celosia plumosa)

common name: 
Plume celosia, feather celosia, cock’s comb
 | 
scientific name: 
Celosia
 
plumosa
Flamma Orange plume celosia with bright orange feathery flowers

'Flamma Orange' plume celosia with bright orange feathery flowers photographed in the Backyard Farmer Display Garden in August 2025.

Image Creadit: 
Trey Lamkins, Graduate Research Assistant

Celosia plumosa is a warm-season annual prized for its bold, upright flower plumes and vibrant color palette that persists from early summer until frost. Best grown in full sun with evenly moist, well-drained soil, plume celosia thrives in heat and humidity and performs reliably during periods of summer stress. Its architectural form makes it a strong accent in mass plantings and containers, while its long-lasting blooms are well suited for fresh and dried floral arrangements.

Charecteristics
Plant type: 
Annual
Hardiness Zones: 
10, 11
Light Needs: 
Full Sun
Water Needs: 
Moist
Space Requirements: 
Less than 12 inches
Height Requirements: 
Less than 2 feet
Spread Requirements: 
1–2 feet
Bloom Color: 
Orange
Bloom Time: 
Summer
Leaf Color: 
Green
Wildlife Attraction: 
Butterflies
Companion Plant Tolerance: 
Drought
Uses: 
Annual
Varieties
Flamma Orange plume celosia with bright orange feathery flowers
'Flamma Orange'

A compact plume celosia featuring intense orange flower spikes and uniform branching. Selected for strong garden performance, vivid color, and suitability for containers and landscape plantings.

Flamma Pink plume celosia with upright pink flower plumes
'Flamma Pink'

Produces upright, rosy-pink plumes on sturdy stems with a dense, mounded habit. Well suited for containers and bedding displays requiring long-lasting summer color.

Burning Embers celosia with dark red plumes and burgundy to green foliage
'Burning Embers'

A dramatic selection featuring deep red to burgundy flower plumes and dark foliage, providing strong contrast in landscape beds and mixed containers.