Celway Red Celosia is a compact, open-pollinated flower cultivar that produces striking cranberry-red blooms on sturdy stems, flowering within 90-100 days from seed. Hardy in zones 10-12, this frost-tender annual thrives in full sun and consistently moist soil, reaching maturity in warm conditions (70-85°F for germination). It's prized as both a fresh and dried cut flower, offering gardeners a long-lasting arrangement option that dries beautifully while retaining its rich color.
Full Sun
High
10-12
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Moderate
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The cranberry-red spikes of Celway Red Celosia dry without fading, making it exceptional for both fresh arrangements and preserved bouquets. Its compact growth habit and 6-inch spacing make it manageable in garden beds or containers. Pinching the young plants encourages branching and fuller flower production, transforming a single plant into a multi-stemmed cutting garden staple. Harvest when blooms are fully developed and stems feel firm at the base, then hang to dry in a dark, ventilated space for two weeks.
Celway Red Celosia excels as a cut flower for fresh arrangements and as a dried flower for long-term displays. The blooms are harvested when fully developed and used immediately in water or dried by hanging upside down in a dark, well-ventilated space. A few drops of bleach in the vase prolongs the life of fresh-cut stems, while dried flowers retain their color and texture for months of decoration.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow seeds into 72-cell flats or preferred seedling containers 6-8 weeks before your last frost date. Cover seeds very lightly to hold them in place; light is required for germination. Grow seedlings at 63-68°F (17-20°C), then harden off and transplant outdoors after all danger of frost has passed.
Transplant hardened-off seedlings into the garden after the last frost date, when soil has warmed. Space plants 6 inches apart in full sun. Ensure soil moisture remains consistently high throughout the growing season.
Direct sowing is only recommended in locations with a long growing season. Sow seeds 1/8 inch deep after the last frost date, when soil has warmed.
Harvest flowers when blooms are fully developed and stems feel firm at the base. For fresh arrangements, cut in the morning when flowers are freshest and petals are just opening, using a clean knife dipped in a 10% household bleach solution. For drying, harvest at the same stage as you would for fresh flowers. Remove all foliage and hang stems upside down in a dark, well-ventilated location to dry for two weeks.
Pinch the growing tips of young plants to encourage branching and fuller, bushier growth with more flower stems for cutting.
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