Gardens Aflame!

Following up last week's post about commonly asked questions (last week's was, "Which plants make the best hanging baskets?"), today I will discuss another common question.
     -- How long does it bloom?  --
Usually the answer is concise, 4-6 weeks, 2-4 weeks, one day(stupid hibiscus), or every ten years.  However, with most annuals and some perennials, deadheading will keep the blooms going for longer periods.  As a corollary to the question, "How much work do they require to keep them blooming?"  Some times, "it depends" is the best answer we have.  Or there is this little guy...

One of my favorite plants, Celosia.  The one above is Celosia argentea. 

This is Celosia cristata.  Commonly known as Cock's Comb, because the flower head looks like a rooster's crest before it fills out to the brain shape pictured above.

This is one of those plants your grandmother planted.  They were popular in the sixties and seventies and fell out of favor, for some reason.  I have no clue why.  They have some of the best color per dollar you can find at garden centers.  They can be found in pinks, reds, yellows, and oranges.  They usually get tall, 30+ inches, unless you get one of the new meatball versions that plant breeders seem to keep pumping out.  Those get 12" tall or so. 

They are related to Amaranths, so they are edible.  The argentea's are pretty tasty, the leaves and new growth can be prepared like spinach, while the cristata (Cock's Comb) has been used in China for medicinal purposes for centuries!  Originally from Eastern Africa, they can take heat!  When the heat spikes and most plants are shutting down various systems, Celosia will continuing growing and blooming like crazy!  They are also very easy!  They don't need much food, average water, and (wait for it!) no dead heading!  Well maybe a little.  I recommend pinching off the first bloom after planting.  This forces the plant to branch, which equates to more flowers!  After that, maybe a couple snips if a flower head starts drying out.  Maybe one snip per month! 

This is when to pinch out the first bloom. Just snip with scissors, or pinch with finger nails the tiny red bloom.

Because of their size and vigor, they are one of the few plants that can stand up to Sweet Potato Vine and not get choked out.  Even better, the colors both plants come in complement each other nicely!

Celosias will do well in most soils, but really thrive in soils rich in organic materials.  So add compost.  A hand full of slow release fertilizer never hurt anything either!

I'd also like to mention some other common names they have had.  Cock's Comb is a good one.  Really, top notch work guys!  Others include Plume Flower, Plumed Amaranth, and Flame Flower.  The name Celosia is Greek, meaning burning, since the plumes look a bit like flames.  My favorite is their original name.  Being from East Africa, their Swahili name is Mfungu. 

These are this weeks Plant of the Week.  So all weekend, Celosias are 25% off!  Mention Mfungu, and get 40% off!

Here's a pretty flower!

-- Alex Wisdom