Celosia Dracula

Let's just get it out in the open, right from the beginning. I'm not a big fan

Let's just get it out in the open, right from the beginning... I'm not a big fan of Celosia. There I said it. This has to be one of the most unique looking "flowers" out there. I did put the quotation marks around the word flower on purpose. This "flower" doesn't have petals, depending on the variety, it will have spires or cockscombs.

Celosia flowers, with their unusual blooms, can "flower" up to 10 weeks. When many of these "flowers" are next to each other, they collectively resemble fire, which is why the name Celosia, meaning burning in Greek, was chosen.

Perhaps I'm a traditionalist, I expect my flowers to have petals. But then, Dracula Celosia arrived in the greenhouse. I have to admit, the name alone intrigued me enough to take a closer look and I'm glad I did! I may be a Celosia convert. Perhaps my flowers don't need to have petals, perhaps they can have spires, perhaps I would like a cockscomb in my garden!

Dracula, a novelty Celosia, is new for 2017. It is the first of its kind, with one large 6-7 in. "flower" on top of each plant. In the greenhouse, the combs are red and the foliage is green with some red, but once you take this lovely beauty home and plant it in your own garden, the foliage will get darker and change to purple tones. The come will also start to change to a darker purple colour. With its unusual shape and eye-catching colour, Dracula Celosia will add drama to your landscapes, gardens and containers.

To grow your Dracula Celosia, make sure to plant in full sun. They need rich soil with lots of compost to produce their big, dramatic plumes ('cause you know I can't call them blooms or petals!). Make sure the soil is moist, but not wet and that it drains well. Water them regularly during the dry periods. Add a general purpose fertilizer one or twice a month. To produce more plumes, pinch back the first one. This may make you nervous for those first bright cockscombs, but have faith! This will promote more branching and reward you later.

Create a little excitement with this show-stopper, pair with an African Marigold such as Lady Orange or a Snapdragon; the Merlot Mix from the Snapshot series would be lovely with the Dracula Celosia. So why not take a chance this spring and try something new and different?