Woolflower (Cockscomb)
Celosia species. AMARANTHACEAE.
Planting and Growing Woolflower
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow woolflower in the accompanying table’s tabs:
-
-
- Flowers, foliage, and root structure of woolflower
- Plant hardiness and growing conditions for woolflower
- Season of bloom and planting time for woolflower
- When, how deep, and where to plant woolflower
- How to plant woolflower
- Watering, fertilizing, care, and pests or diseases of woolflower
- Landscape and container uses of woolflower
- Comments about woolflower and its features
-
![©2004_Penc_048jr_Celosia_sp_Outtakes_540X Woolflower or Cockscomb (Celosia spp.) is a brightly colored and eye-catching, self-seeding annual flower with nearly florescent red, white, or yellow, yarn-like flower clusters in tall plumes from summer to last frost.](https://i0.wp.com/grownbyyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/©2004_Penc_048jr_Celosia_sp_Outtakes_540X.jpg?fit=540%2C810&ssl=1)
Growing Woolflower
Nearly 60 species of mounding, dense annual or perennial herbs, 10–36 in. (25–90 cm) tall. Alternate, bright green or variegated, lance-shaped leaves, to 2 in. (50 mm) long.
Dwarf cultivars available.
Common cultivars include Celosia ‘Dwarf Fairy Fountains’, ‘Intermediate Apricot Brandy’, ‘Kimono’, ‘New Look’, ‘Pink Castle’, ‘Prestige Scarlet’, ‘Tall Forest Fire Improved’, and ‘Toreador’.
Planting and Care Guide
Blooms
![023-flower Flower on plant logo glyph Copyright ©2020 Used under grant of license from license holder. All rights reserved by licensor.](https://i0.wp.com/grownbyyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/023-flower.jpg?fit=64%2C64&ssl=1)
Many tiny, bright gold, orange, purple, red, white, yellow, woolly, yarnlike flowers form erect plumes or rounded, nodding, crestlike clusters, to 4 in. (10 cm) tall, in summer–first frost.
Best Climates
![3-Conditions_006-cloud Glyph icon sun and clouds](https://i0.wp.com/grownbyyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/3-Conditions_006-cloud.jpg?fit=64%2C64&ssl=1)
Self-seeding, zones 2–11. Best in hot-summer climates.
Soil Type and Fertility
![4-Soil_002-soil Glyph icon plants and soil profile. Copyright © 2019, 2020 Dolezal & Associates. Used by grant of license from copyright holder. All Rights Reserved by licensor.](https://i0.wp.com/grownbyyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/4-Soil_002-soil.jpg?fit=64%2C64&ssl=1)
Moist, well-drained soil. Fertility: Rich–low. 6.5–7.5 pH.
Where and How to Plant
![010S1-H1_Plant_Shrub Glyph icon planting shrub in garden landscape. Copyright © 2019, 2020 Dolezal & Associates. Used by grant of license from copyright holder. All Rights Reserved by licensor.](https://i0.wp.com/grownbyyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/010S1-H1_Plant_Shrub.png?fit=64%2C64&ssl=1)
Spring in full sun, 9–12 in. (23–30 cm) apart, after frost hazard has passed.
Proper Care
![011T2-H1_Care_Tree-2 Glyph icon gardening care, watering can and water drops](https://i0.wp.com/grownbyyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/011T2-H1_Care_Tree-2.png?fit=64%2C64&ssl=1)
Moderate. Keep moist; allow soil surface to dry between waterings. Fertilize every 2–3 months. Deadhead spent flowers to prolong bloom. Propagate by seed.
About This Plant
![024-sprout Hands with young plant logo or glyph. Copyright ©2020 FlatIcon. All Rights Reserved. Used under license from licensor.](https://i0.wp.com/grownbyyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/024-sprout.jpg?fit=64%2C64&ssl=1)
Good choice for beds, borders, containers, edgings in cottage, formal, meadow, small-space gardens. Good for cutting, drying. Pest and disease resistant.