This Flower Was Part Of My Bouquet – What Is It?

Ask The Plant Expert:

This flower was part of a bouquet and dropped a lot of very small round black seeds. What is the name of this plant? – Shirley

Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply: Shirley, the name of flower is Celosia.

This interesting pink flower is commonly called cockscomb because it resembles the comb of a rooster. The genus name is Celosia. The perennial cockscomb is Celosia argentea and the annual types fall under Celosia spicata.

Celosia History

Celosia’s name is derived from the Greek word for “burning.” It grows widespread across Mexico, where it is known as “Velvet flower.” In northern South America, tropical Africa, the West Indies, South, East and Southeast Asia where it is grown as a native or naturalized wildflower, and is cultivated as a nutritious leafy green vegetable. It is traditional fare in the countries of Central and West Africa, and is one of the leading leafy green vegetables in Nigeria, where it is known as ‘soko yokoto’, meaning “make husbands fat and happy”.

Celosia Flower

An interesting addition to the garden, Celosia is also a versatile flower for decorating. Florists use it both as a cut flower in fresh arrangements and as a dried flower in permanent arrangements.  So enjoy this wonderful flower while you can – a killing frost will put them to rest for the winter.

Growing Celosia From Seed

Keep those seeds and grow them next spring!

Celosia are easily grown from seeds. They can be directly seeded into your flower garden or seeded indoors for transplanting later. If planting outdoors, sow celosia seeds after the soil has begun to warm in the spring. For best results, start them indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost date for your area. Seeds need to stay moist, and require warm soil to germinate.

Sow seeds early in the season. Cover them lightly with 1/8″ of fine soil. Water thoroughly and keep soil moist.

Hope this helps!