Crested Celosia
Dracula Celosia is a low-growing cockscomb that stops visitors in their tracks with its theatrical deep burgundy and vermillion blooms paired with purply-black foliage. Reaching just 18 inches tall and 12 inches wide, this cultivar of Celosia argentea spicata reaches full flowering in 60 days and thrives in full sun with consistently high water. It's a dual-purpose flower that shines as a vibrant bedding plant in the garden and transitions beautifully into a long-lasting cut and dried flower for indoor arrangements.
Full Sun
High
10-11
18in H x 12in W
Annual
High
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The combination of the deepest, darkest reds with moody purply-black foliage makes Dracula Celosia a gothic jewel in any garden, creating dramatic contrast against brighter greens and yellows. Its compact 18-inch height and cockscomb flower form work equally well as a fresh cut flower or dried arrangement, giving you months of impact both in the garden and inside your home. This variety was highlighted on its own by Hudson Valley Seed precisely because it enchants gardeners who want something far more sophisticated than typical celosia varieties.
Dracula Celosia shines in two distinct roles. In the garden, it functions as an intriguing, unusual bedding plant with striking visual presence, particularly where its deep reds and dark foliage create moody focal points. Beyond the border, it excels as both a fresh cut flower for vase arrangements and a dried flower for long-term display, with petals and form that hold their rich color and texture beautifully when hung upside down to dry.
Sow seeds indoors and cover lightly. Germination occurs between 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit and within 6 to 15 days. Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last frost date to time transplanting for optimal growth.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after all danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed. Space plants 16 inches apart with 18 inches between rows, allowing each plant to reach its full mature width of 12 inches.
For fresh-cut flowers, harvest in the morning when flowers are at their freshest and petals are just beginning to open. Use a clean knife dipped in a 10 percent household bleach solution to make a clean cut. To dry Dracula Celosia for long-term arrangements, hang stems upside down in a dry location for two weeks until petals are fully papery and retain their deep burgundy color.
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