Plumed Celosia
Sunday Gold Celosia is a vibrant open-pollinated flower that brings uniform, golden plumes to the garden from midsummer onward. This bushy cultivar reaches full flower in 85-90 days and excels as a cut flower, whether harvested fresh or dried for lasting arrangements. The variety's consistent appearance and reliable performance make it a standout choice for gardeners seeking both ornamental beauty and practical utility in the vase.
12 inches apart
—
Moderate
10-11
?in H x ?in W
Annual
High
Hover over chart points for details
What sets Sunday Gold apart is its exceptional uniformity and remarkable dual life, equally stunning fresh from the garden or dried and preserved. The plumes develop into firm, vibrant blooms that last beautifully in water or hanging to dry in a cool, dark space. Pinching early in the season encourages branching, rewarding you with multiple flowering stems from a single plant. Whether you're cutting for fresh bouquets or building a dried flower supply, this celosia delivers reliable, prolific blooms throughout the season.
Sunday Gold Celosia is prized above all as a cut flower for fresh arrangements and dried flower work. The flowers are harvested at full development and can be used immediately in water or dried by hanging in a dark, well-ventilated space to preserve their color and form indefinitely. Many gardeners grow this variety specifically to build supplies for dried arrangements, wreaths, and long-lasting bouquets.
Sow seeds into 72-cell flats or preferred seedling containers 6-8 weeks before your last frost date. Light is required for germination, so cover seeds very lightly just enough to hold them in place. Maintain seedling temperatures at 63-68°F (17-20°C). Harden off seedlings gradually over 7-10 days before transplanting outdoors after all danger of frost has passed.
Transplant hardened-off seedlings into the garden after your last frost date when soil has warmed. Space plants 6 inches apart. Water gently at the base to establish them, then maintain consistent moisture during the first 2-3 weeks.
Direct seeding is only recommended in locations with a long growing season. Sow seeds 1/8 inch deep directly into the garden after your last frost date when soil temperature has warmed sufficiently.
For fresh cut flowers, harvest when the plumes are fully developed and stems are firm at the base of the bloom. For drying, harvest at the same stage of development as you would for fresh use, fully mature flowers with firm stems. Remove all foliage from dried stems and hang them upside down in a dark, well-ventilated location until completely dry.
Pinch the growing tips of young plants early in the season to encourage branching and a fuller, more productive plant with multiple flowering stems rather than a single main stem.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.