Originally Posted by meemersmom
Originally Posted by BMP
I have never seen those, its beautiful. I wonder if they would grow in NY ...
Full name of this one is celosia argentea -- common name is Cockscomb -- (the taller variety pictured here is is known as 'cristata') is a tropical that is a prolific self-sowing annual that will work in almost any zone if started indoors and not put out until all chance of frost has passed. I can grow them here in Buffalo, so you should be able to do the same in Elmira. They will bloom from early to mid-July, and hard frost will kill them off. I plant almost exclusively perennials -- this is one of the few annuals I make room for.
Right and with a little work they can be dried for winter decoration. Cut flowers before they are fully blown on a dry day and hang upside down in dry dim place. The color deepens as the flowers dry. If the flowers are heavy reinforce stems with wire before arranging.
Dried Cockscomb
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