(Celosia argentea spicata) Goodness gracious how I love names. Now we all know what a parfait is, or do we…?! I, for instance, was unaware until this very moment that a parfait in the UK can also refer to a meat paste made from duck or chicken livers and flavored with liqueurs. Mmmmmmmm. This is most decidedly not what the creator of this name was going for. Moving on… These are lovely (once you leave the worrisome name behind) flowers and quite easy to grow although we beseech you to sow these ever so tiny seeds in some sort of vessel you can lovingly keep track of as they work their magic underground. 2-3” arrow-shaped spikes of deep pink flowers poke up in a profuse mass atop the 2-3’ plants. Wonderful for cutting (re-sprouts when cut) with a long vase life, or if you’d rather leave them be, lovely in a garden and perfect in a flower pot as their spread is but 18” or so. Attractive to butterflies but not so much to deer who much prefer your carefully tended, crisp and delicious lettuce buffet. Also attractive to and nutritious for people! A member of the Amaranth family, Celosia argentea is grown as a leaf vegetable and cereal crop in West and Central Africa, and Southeast Asia. In southern Nigeria, it is the most important leaf vegetable and is known as sokoyokoto (Lagos spinach). So sow away. And by all means, rename.
90-95 days. UO

Packet: 100 seeds.

[split]

Growing Info

SOWING:

Sow indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost.

Transplant out after last frost.

Note: Edible young leaves.

PLANTING DEPTH:

Surface sow. Requires light to germinate.

SPACING:

8-12" between plants in rows 15-18" apart.

EMERGENCE:

7-14 days @ soil temp 70-80F

LIGHT:

Full sun.

FERTILITY:

Medium to high. Prefers well-drained, fertile, evenly moist soil and heat.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

Attracts pollinators!

Pinch at 9" to encourage branching.

Fresh and dry flower.

Harvest flowers when fully mature and expect a vase life of 7-14 days, or hang to dry.

Celosia, 'Ruby Parfait'