Celosia Argentea

Celosia argentea is the wild species behind many elaborate cockscomb and plumed celosias, producing upright branching stems and slender spikes of silvery white to pale pink flowers. In warm conditions it grows rapidly and flowers from summer until frost, while the seed heads remain effective for drying. The species also has a long history as a leafy vegetable in tropical Africa and Asia, where forms are known as Lagos spinach or soko. In cooler gardens it is best treated as a half-hardy annual, bringing an unusual combination of botanical simplicity, warm-season vigour and cultural interest to borders and containers.