Indiana Giant Cockscomb is a spectacular heirloom celosia with deep crimson, tightly curled flower heads that can reach an astonishing 14 inches across. Jere Gettle of Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds received the seeds from an Amish family while traveling in Indiana around 2004, and this mammoth variety has since become a treasure for cutting gardens and dramatic landscape displays. It thrives in full sun across hardiness zones 10-13, germinates in 14-21 days when sown after frost, and performs best in temperatures between 60-95°F. The edible flowers and foliage make it as interesting on the plate as it is in the garden.
Full Sun
Moderate
10-13
?in H x ?in W
—
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
The sheer size of these blooms sets Indiana Giant apart from typical celosias. Heads reaching 14 inches across in deep crimson create a bold visual impact whether you're cutting them fresh or leaving them standing in the garden. The tightly curled, velvety texture of the flower head is distinctive and mesmerizing up close, and because it's an heirloom variety with genuine roots in Amish agricultural traditions, you're growing a piece of living plant history.
Indiana Giant Cockscomb earns its place in cutting gardens and county fair displays with those dramatic 14-inch crimson heads that command attention in any arrangement. The edible flowers and foliage can be incorporated into salads and other culinary preparations, adding visual drama and a mild vegetable character to the plate. Landscapers value it for creating bold focal points in garden beds, where the deep crimson color provides striking contrast against green foliage or lighter-colored companion plantings.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow seeds directly in place after the final frost date has passed. Cover seeds lightly with fine, moist soil (approximately 1/8 inch deep) and keep the soil warm to encourage germination, which typically occurs within 14-21 days. Seeds prefer a germination temperature of 70-85°F.
For cut flowers, harvest when the crimson heads have fully developed their characteristic tightly curled texture and have reached substantial size. The deep color should be fully saturated and uniform across the head. Cut stems in the early morning when plants are fully hydrated, using sharp, clean tools. For edible flowers and foliage, harvest young leaves and flower clusters before they fully mature; the tender parts offer the mildest flavor and most delicate texture.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
“This variety carries a story rooted in American agricultural heritage. Around 2004, Jere Gettle of Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds received seeds of this magnificent celosia from an Amish family during travels in Indiana. The Amish have long been stewards of heirloom seeds, carefully preserving varieties that perform reliably in their growing conditions and reflect generations of careful selection. By sharing these seeds with Gettle, the family ensured that Indiana Giant would reach a wider audience of gardeners hungry for authentic, regionally-adapted heirloom varieties. What began as seeds passed hand-to-hand in Indiana has become accessible to home gardeners nationwide, a quiet testament to the power of seed saving and cultural exchange within farming communities.”