Celosia argentea Flamingo Purple- Silver cock's combseeds

You can grow 'Flamingo Purple' Celosia from seed. This annual plant, with the Latin name Celosia spicata, is remarkable for its tapered inflorescences reminiscent of wheat ears, displaying lilac-pink hues that fade to silvery over time. Its upright and slender habit is supported by dark green foliage with purple highlights. It tolerates heat and drought once established and should be planted after the last spring frosts. Ideal for flowerbeds, borders and containers, it is also charming in fresh or dried bouquets thanks to its long-lasting flowers.

The 'Flamingo Purple' Celosia (Celosia argentea var. spicata) belongs to the Amaranthaceae family, just like amaranths and orach, for example. Native to tropical regions of Asia, particularly India and Indonesia, this species is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical zones worldwide. The 'Flamingo Purple' cultivar is distinguished by its feathery inflorescences of intense magenta violet, fading to silvery shades at the base, and by its dark green foliage with purple highlights. Reaching a height of 60 to 90 cm in open ground, it has an upright, bushy habit, with sturdy dark red stems. The flowers are grouped in dense spikes 5 to 12 cm long, attracting pollinators such as bees and butterflies. The foliage is deciduous, with lanceolate, 5 to 15 cm long leaves, arranged in an alternate manner along the stems. Flowering begins in June (depending on the sowing date), and continues throughout the summer. After pollination, a large quantity of small, rounded, light brown seeds form. The older leaves and stems have a bitter flavour, while the young leaves have a pleasant spicy taste reminiscent of spinach. The root system is fibrous and shallow, which makes the plant sensitive to disturbance during transplanting.

The 'Flamingo Purple' Celosia integrates gracefully into summer compositions, bringing a light height and silky texture to sunny flowerbeds. Its magenta spikes harmonise beautifully with the airy inflorescences of Gaura lindheimeri 'Whirling Butterflies', or the purple foliage of Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum', while the silvery tones of Artemisia 'Powis Castle' add a touch of freshness. Its combination with opulent flowers, such as roses, peonies and dahlias, helps to lighten the scene. In pots, these combinations create dynamic displays, ideal for sun-drenched terraces.