Celosia ‘New Look Red’

Celosia plumosa ‘New Look Red’

Characteristics

Culture

This novelty has a wide, bushy, base-branching habit, dark foliage and large plumes of a glowing deep red. Celosia ‘New Look Red’ boasts incessant blooms that create an exotic color spot in gardens. New Look thrives in a full sun garden location and the plumes will retain their intense scarlet color longer than other types of celosia. An easy to grow annual with bronze foliage and showy, scarlet red, plumed flowers.  Ideal for use in landscape beds; it thrives during hot summers.  Plants will flower all summer long! Dead heading is not recommended.  Staking is not required.

Noteworthy Characteristics

After planting, Celosia ‘New Look Red’ should be fertilized monthly using a fertilizer with a higher phosphorus than nitrogen content to promote new blooms. Celosia require regular watering but do not overwater as they can tolerate dryer soil better than overly wet soil and too much water can kill the plant. Only water when the top 1-2 inches of soil are dry.

Celosia is a member of the amaranth family and is a very common plant in annual gardens due to their ease of care and wide array of flower structures and colors.  The name Celosia originates from the Greek word for “burning” due to the flame-like flower heads. The species used for flowering annuals is believed to be native to the Mediterranean region or East Africa and also commonly known as “woolflowers”.

Problems

Pests and diseases are usually not an issue with this plant. Occasionally bothered by aphids and spider mites.

Garden Uses

Cut flower. Dried flower arrangements. Celosia are often used in cut flower displays, both fresh and dried. To keep fresh cut flowers displays looking their best, be sure to change the water every two days. To dry celosia flowers, hang them upside down for two weeks.