Cockscomb & Celosia

Baker Creek is delighted to reintroduce an all-but-forgotten edible ornamental! This 2-3' tall variety was a major standout in our trial gardens, and it's the most delicious flowering vegetable we've tried! Founder Jere Gettle was intrigued by Chinese Wool Flower advertisements in seed catalogs dating back to 1915, and further research revealed these plants were no longer available anywhere in the U.S. We took the search abroad, finally tracking down a single seed packet in Japan!

The fluffy heads of this amaranth family member resemble tufts of yarn, and they make a bold everlasting flower for fresh or dried arrangements. Recipe possibilites are endless for this remarkable edible ornamental. Our trial kitchen has tried them tempura style, stir fried, in soups, lasagna, and pizza. Their delicate, gourmet flavor truly sets them apart!

We are thrilled to finally be able to offer Chinese Wool Flower to the public!

• Full Sun
• Sprouts in 14-21 Days
• Seed Depth: 1/8"
• Ideal Temperature: 65-70 F
• Plant Spacing: 6-8"
• Frost Hardy: No
• Celosia argentea

Annual. Beautiful color on short plants! These can produce large heads that sometimes reach 8-12" across, although they vary. A perfect bedding plant that adds vibrant colors to any garden. Even the smallest spaces can fit in a few of these.

• Annual
• Full Sun
• Sprouts in 14-21 Days
• Seed Depth: 1/8"
• Ideal Temperature: 60-95 F
• Plant Spacing: 10"
• Frost Hardy: No
• Celosia argentea cristata

Growing Tips: Sow seeds in place after frost. Cover lightly in fine, moist soil, and keep warm until germination. Grow plants in full sun.

85 days. Prepare to be enraptured with this fruity mix, it is resplendent in beauty! This dazzling mix of colors reminds us of a fruit bowl, blooms come in blood orange, Meyer lemon, raspberry and tangerine tones. Heads are feathery and fluffy, referred to as fusagaito in Japanese. The 2-2.5 foot tall plants are excellent for beds, borders, containers and cut flower use! The celosia is believed to have been introduced to Japan in the 8th century, there the young leaves have been used as an edible green, the colorful heads have been rendered into a beautiful natural dye and the plants were also traditionally burned in the home to deter mice from entering the home. We love this brilliant fruity mix!

(Celosia argentea spicata). Soft pink spikes sway gracefully atop tall, slender stems, making this the most elegant celosia. This reliable and uniform variety stands 24-40 inches tall and is perfect for fine gardening and cut flower growing. The dainty spikes in plush pink tones makes for a perfect wedding flower or a soothing element in landscapes.

Annual. Jere Gettle received seeds of this amazing, mammoth variety from an Amish family while traveling in Indiana around 2004. The deep crimson, tightly curled heads can reach to 14" across! A perfect choice for cutting gardens, landscaping, and county fair displays.

• Annual
• Full Sun
• Sprouts in 14-21 Days
• Seed Depth: 1/8"
• Ideal Temperature: 60-95 F
• Plant Spacing: 10"
• Frost Hardy: No
• Celosia argentea

Growing Tips: Sow seeds in place after frost. Cover lightly in fine, moist soil, and keep warm until germination. Grow plants in full sun.

(Celosia cristata) 90 days. A highly dramatic dwarf cockscomb, these mammoth, intricately folded heads come in a rainbow of colors and sit just 14 inches high. A rich mix of crimson, canary yellow, tangerine, magenta, and cerise. This astounding variety is short and stocky, just over 1 foot tall, but with massive heads reaching to 16 inches across! This is a perfect bedding, container or border plant, an easy to grow annual with fantastic eye appeal.

A vibrant treasure from Japan. Stunning, tangerine to kumquat colored heads are intricately wrinkled, these spectacular blooms sit atop long, sturdy stems and are a floral designer’s dream! Flower farmers and home gardeners will love this punchy, citrus-colored cockscomb. The heads are medium to large, with a velvety sheen!

Annual. Beautiful orange color on short plants! These can produce large heads that sometimes reach 8-12" across, although this varies. A perfect bedding plant that adds vibrant orange color to any garden. Even the smallest spaces can fit in a few of these.

• Annual
• Full Sun
• Sprouts in 14-21 Days
• Seed Depth: 1/8"
• Ideal Temperature: 60-95 F
• Plant Spacing: 10"
• Frost Hardy: No
• Celosia argentea cristata

Growing Tips: Sow seeds in place after frost. Cover lightly in fine, moist soil, and keep warm until germination. Grow plants in full sun.

Annual. A gorgeous jewel-toned mix for landscape and cut flower design! Plants stand about 3' tall and are topped with feathery flames of color, creating an amazing display in the garden and in arrangements. The blooms in this mix add pops of high-contrast color to fresh or dried arrangements. A gorgeous cut flower that is reliable and easy to grow.

• Annual
• Full Sun
• Sprouts in 14-21 Days
• Seed Depth: 1/8"
• Ideal Temperature: 65-70 F
• Plant Spacing: 6-8"
• Frost Hardy: No
• Celosia argentea

Annual. Produces massive 8-12" magenta heads atop tall plants with lush foliage. The large, dense combs have brilliant garnet and violet tones that shimmer at the back of borders or as a large focal point in arrangements. With dwarf cockscomb dominating the market in recent years, it can be difficult to find tall varieties. Tornado Red proudly stands 2' tall, blooming late spring until fall frost. This stunning variety holds its rich, crushed velvet color when cut.

• Annual
• Full Sun
• Sprouts in 14-21 Days
• Seed Depth: 1/8"
• Ideal Temperature: 60-95 F
• Plant Spacing: 10"
• Frost Hardy: No
• Celosia argentea

Growing Tips: Sow seeds in place after frost. Cover lightly in fine, moist soil, and keep warm until germination. Grow plants in full sun.

Annual. This fabulously novel variegated cockscomb from antiquity has returned! This color was described as a beautiful and unusual floral oddity in “The Country Gentleman’s Magazine,” a British periodical from 1874. It was offered by several catalogs of that era and is still a favorite in our garden today. The dueling tones are a playful riot of color on these alien-like combs sitting atop 3' plants. This one-of-a-kind plant is warmly embraced by gardeners and floral designers alike! The varied variegation on these lovely 4-6" flowers is a joy!

• Annual
• Full Sun
• Sprouts in 14-21 Days
• Seed Depth: 1/8"
• Ideal Temperature: 60-95 F
• Plant Spacing: 10"
• Frost Hardy: No
• Celosia cristata

Growing Tips: Sow seeds in place after frost. Cover lightly in fine, moist soil, and keep warm until germination. Grow plants in full sun.