Prestige Scarlet Celosia is an All-American Selections winner that brings dramatic, velvety scarlet blooms to gardens across zones 3 through 11. This annual celosia grows as a compact bush reaching 15 to 20 inches tall, producing a stunning central crested flower alongside numerous branching stems that each bear their own smaller cockscombs. The effect is like a miniature conifer decked with glowing scarlet ornaments, blooming over an extended season from seed to flower in 70 to 79 days. Plant it in full sun with 12 inches of spacing, and you'll have continuous color from midsummer through frost.
Full Sun
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3-11
20in H x ?in W
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High
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The 1997 All-American Selections award wasn't arbitrary. Prestige Scarlet wins because it keeps giving: while most celosias peak with a single central bloom, this cultivar branches prolifically to create a branching pattern that produces smaller scarlet cockscombs throughout the growing season, extending the show far longer than competitors. The 3.5-inch wide crests maintain their vibrant color and velvety texture over weeks, and the compact 15 to 20-inch frame makes it equally at home in garden beds, containers, or as a cut flower that dries beautifully for arrangements.
Prestige Scarlet Celosia is grown strictly as an ornamental flower. The scarlet crested blooms are prized for fresh flower arrangements and bouquets, where their velvety texture and deep color command attention. Because the plants branch repeatedly and produce flowers continuously through the season, they're excellent as long-lasting cut flowers. The flowers also dry exceptionally well for dried arrangements and winter wreaths, holding their brilliant color and form for months after harvest.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last frost date. Celosia seeds are tiny and should be sown directly on the surface of moist seed-starting mix without covering them, as they need light to germinate. Maintain soil temperature around 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and germination should occur within 7 to 14 days. Provide bright light as soon as seedlings emerge, and keep humidity moderate to prevent damping off.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after all danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed to at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit, typically in late spring. Harden off seedlings gradually over 7 to 10 days by exposing them to increasing amounts of outdoor light and wind. Space transplants 12 inches apart in their final location, and water gently to settle soil around the roots.
Cut celosia flowers for arrangements when the crests have fully developed and show their deepest color, typically 70 to 79 days after sowing. Cut stems in the early morning, choosing flowers that feel firm and velvety to the touch. For dried arrangements, harvest at peak color and hang bundles upside down in a warm, dry location out of direct sunlight; flowers will dry within 2 to 3 weeks and retain their scarlet color.
No formal pruning is necessary. The branching growth habit is central to the plant's charm; deadheading spent flower heads will encourage more branching and extend the blooming season. Pinching back young seedlings when they reach 4 to 6 inches tall will also promote bushier growth and more abundant flowering.
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“Prestige Scarlet earned the All-American Selections award in 1997, recognition that reflects its superior breeding and consistent performance across diverse growing conditions. This crested celosia was developed to address what gardeners had long wanted: a celosia that didn't rely on a single show-stopping bloom but instead created continuous color through sustained branching and repeated flowering. Its selection into the AAS program validates both its ornamental value and its reliability, making it one of the few celosia cultivars that has earned horticultural recognition at that level.”