How to Grow Celosia
Celosia At a Glance
Difficulty
Easy
Category
Flower
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Frost Tolerance
Frost Tender
Cold Hardiness
Survives to 5°C
Plant Family
Amaranthaceae
Growing Season
Warm Season
Plant Lifecycle
Annual
How to Start It
★ Recommended for beginners
Celosia hates cold, so sow it 1 to 2 weeks after your last spring frost, once the soil feels warm. Sprinkle the seeds thinly and cover them lightly, about 0.5 cm deep. They sprout in 10 to 14 days: thin them (pull the extras) so each plant has 20 cm of room.
Celosia gives bright, almost glowing flower plumes or velvety crested heads that look like coral. It loves heat and stalls in cold soil, so wait until the weather is truly warm before sowing or planting. The flowers dry beautifully and keep their colour for months in a vase without water.
When To Start
First chance to plant
7 Days After Last Frost
Last chance to plant
30 Days Before First Frost
When should you plant Celosia?
Your planting dates depend on your local climate. Sign up and add your location to unlock personalized dates.
Your Celosia Planting Window
Start planting
May 15, 2026
Last chance
Sep 10, 2026
Your Celosia Calendar
Set your location to turn these into exact dates and reminders.
Sow celosia outdoors now that the soil is warm
1 week after your last frost· every year
Optional: start celosia indoors in a warm spot
6 weeks before your last frost· every year· optional
Plant indoor celosia seedlings out in full sun
2 weeks after your last frost· every year· optional
Cut celosia for the vase or for drying
75 days after your last frost· every year· optional
Did you water your celosia seedlings today? Keep the top of the soil damp until they are up and growing.
About 1 days after you plant it
Hello from your celosia bed! Water at the base of the plants so the leaves stay dry.
About 44 days after you plant it
Your celosia is getting close. Keep the soil lightly moist while the flower heads fill out.
About 74 days after you plant it
Picking time may be here: check your celosia.
About 90 days after you plant it
The Journey Ahead
Celosia's Lifecycle
Seedling
Mature Plant
Seed Production
Step 2
Planting & Sprouting
Expect sprouts in 10–14 days
Growing Tips
- 1Give celosia full sun, at least 6 to 8 hours a day.
- 2Plant it in soil that drains well, with a little compost mixed in.
- 3Water at the base when the top few cm of soil is dry, and keep the leaves dry.
- 4Feed once a month with compost tea for strong colour.
- 5Pinch the tip of plume types when they are about 15 cm tall to get more flower stems.
- 6Spray aphids off with a strong stream of water, and leave room between plants for air to flow.
Seedling Phase
Step 3
Growth & Maturity
~90
Days to Maturity
60 cm
Mature Height
30 cm
Mature Width
Pests to Watch For
Diseases to Watch For
Mature Plant
Step 4
Harvesting
Harvest Window
45 days
When to Pick
Harvest flowers when fully open
How to Harvest
- 1Cut celosia for the vase when the heads are fully coloured, before seeds start to form at the base.
- 2Cut long stems just above a pair of leaves, and new side stems will grow from there.
- 3Strip the leaves off the stems and put them in water right away.
- 4To dry them, hang small bunches upside down in a dark, airy spot for 2 to 3 weeks.
- 5The dried flowers keep their colour for months.
Step 5
Saving Seeds
How to Save Seeds
Celosia mostly pollinates itself, but bees can mix different kinds growing close together, so grow one kind if you want it to stay true. Hybrid F1 seeds will not grow true, so save only from a variety that is not a hybrid. Leave a few of the best heads on the plant until they fade and dry, then cut them into a paper bag and shake or rub them to release the tiny, shiny black seeds. Store them labelled in a cool, dark, dry place, where they keep about 4 years.
Seed Production
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