Plume
Sunday Wine Red Celosia is a vibrant open-pollinated flower that brings bold, deep crimson plumes to gardens and arrangements. This bushy cultivar reaches peak beauty in 85-95 days, producing uniform, velvety flower heads that command attention whether fresh in a vase or preserved for winter dried arrangements. With its exceptional cutting longevity and ease of cultivation, it's a favorite among florists and home gardeners who value flowers that look stunning from harvest day through months of dried display.
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Moderate
10-11
?in H x ?in W
Annual
Low
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What sets Sunday Wine Red apart is the intensity and uniformity of its wine-dark plumes combined with its remarkable dual-purpose versatility. The flowers transition seamlessly from fresh cut arrangements to dried bouquets, making it rare to find a single plant that performs so beautifully in both forms. Its compact, bushy growth habit and reliable 85-95 day timeline make it predictable enough for succession plantings, while the deep crimson color adds drama that lighter celosia varieties simply cannot match.
Sunday Wine Red Celosia excels as a cut flower for both fresh and dried arrangements. Growers harvest the fully developed plumes when stems are firm at the base, then either condition them immediately for fresh display or hang them to dry in a dark, well-ventilated space where the color deepens and stabilizes. The dried flowers retain their rich wine-red color exceptionally well, making them ideal for long-lasting bouquets, wreaths, and dried flower installations that hold their appeal for months.
Sow seeds into 72-cell flats or similar seedling containers 6-8 weeks before your last expected frost date. Light is required for germination, so cover seeds only very lightly to hold them in place but allow light penetration. Grow seedlings at 63-68°F (17-20°C) until they develop true leaves and are ready for hardening off.
Harden off seedlings gradually over 7-10 days before planting out after all danger of frost has passed. Space plants 6 inches apart in their final location in full sun.
Direct sow only in locations with a long growing season. Sow seeds 1/8 inch deep after the last frost date has passed, spacing according to your final spacing needs.
Harvest celosia plumes when flowers are fully developed and stems are firm at the base of the bloom. Cut stems early in the morning for maximum vase life. For drying, harvest at the same stage as you would for fresh flowers, fully mature blooms on firm stems perform best both fresh and preserved.
Pinch young plants once they are established to encourage branching and create bushier specimens with more flowering stems. This simple technique significantly increases the number of plumes available for cutting.
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