Flamingo Feather Celosia
Celosia argentea var. spicata 'Flamingo Feather'
flowerFlamingo Feather is a wheat celosia that sends up slender, upright flower spikes opening candy-pink and fading to silvery-white, on bushy 2 to 3 foot plants. Tough, heat-loving, and long-blooming, it is one of the easiest cut flowers and dries beautifully for everlasting arrangements.
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Sun
full sun
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Water
Every 4 days
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Bloom
~90 days
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Difficulty
easy
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Lifecycle
annual
One season, then done
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Spacing
8-12 in. apart
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Planting Depth
Barely cover seed (needs light)
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Soil pH
6.0-6.5
Growing Details
Soil Type
Rich, loamy, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3 – 10
Grown as an annual — this range is its winter hardiness, but you can grow it for a single season in any zone.
When to Fertilize
At planting; light feed during growth
Fertilizer
Balanced; moderate needs
🌱 Growing Guide
Start seed indoors about four weeks before the last frost, barely covering it since light aids germination, and avoid chilling or stalling the seedlings, which makes celosia bolt prematurely. Transplant only after frost when the soil is warm, into rich, well-drained soil in full sun. Pinch young plants to branch them for more stems, and water at the base to avoid leaf spot. It blooms nonstop until frost.
🌼 Have a different variety?Cultivars of the same species usually share the same basic care — they differ mainly in flower color, height, and bloom form, not in how you grow them. So this guide still applies even if your exact variety isn't the one shown.
Planting Calendar
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Start seeds indoors
Mar 18
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Transplant outdoors
Apr 29
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Projected first bloom
Jul 28
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
OOct
NNov
DDec
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Zinnia — A fellow heat-loving cut flower that draws bees and butterflies
- Cosmos — Shares full sun and a long bloom season while feeding pollinators
- Salvia — Adds nectar for bees and hummingbirds in the same border
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Hose off colonies on tender tips and encourage ladybugs and lacewings
Most likely in hot dry spells; rinse the foliage and keep plants watered
Plant in warm, well-drained soil, space for airflow, and water at the base, not overhead
🌸 Blooms & cutting
Cut spikes when they are well formed and firm at the base but before they set seed, in the morning. The more you cut, the more it branches and blooms. For dried arrangements, hang stems upside down in a dark, airy spot; they hold their color for months.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
The nectar-rich spikes draw bees and butterflies through late summer, but Flamingo Feather earns its place mainly as an easy, long-lasting cut and dried flower.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.