Dragon’s Breath Celosia
(Celosia argentea)

• Trade Name: Dragon’s Breath celosia
  
• Common Name(s): Prince’s feather, plumed celosia
  
• Recommended Use: Warm season bedding plant, landscape, containers
  
• Exposure: Full sun
  
• Size: 2 feet tall, 15 to 18 inches wide
  
• Habit: Upright
  
• Bloom Time: Summer and fall
  
• Maintenance Category: Low
  
• Water Use: Average to low
  
• Highlights: Large, long-lasting flowers; heat and drought tolerant; red-green foliage

Summary

Celosia is a warm-season annual bedding plant that is part of the amaranth family (Amaranthaceae). Native to Africa, this plant is adapted to high heat and high humidity conditions, which make it perfect for the Louisiana landscape. Dragon’s Breath is a seed-propagated celosia variety developed by Sakata Ornamentals from the plumosa group of celosias.

There are several striking features of this plant that set it apart from other celosias but perhaps none more striking than the bright scarlet flowers that reach above the foliage. Each flower spike starts out broad at the base and tapers at the tip, which combined with the bright pinkish-red color, resembles a flame. These showy flowers are long-lasting, with blooms beginning to open in the summer and continuing through first frost. A unique characteristic about these celosia flowers is that they are affected by day length, which could allow for two flowering periods depending on when they are planted in the landscape. Spring plantings will flower until the days get long in the summer. During long summer days, the plants will push out new foliage before flowering again in the fall as days get shorter. Summer plantings will flower through fall. The flowers add a pop of color to the landscape and are also a great addition to floral bouquets as both fresh and dried cut flowers. When not in bloom, the foliage provides ornamental interest all its own. The spear-shaped leaves are olive green and tinged with red starting from the edges of the leaf and moving inwards. This color deepens under hot and humid conditions.

Dragon’s Breath celosia has an upright growth habit and can be used as a border plant in the landscape or in containers as a thriller in the thriller-filler-spiller planting combination. Plants grow up to 2 feet tall with a spread of 15 to 18 inches. Space plants 18 inches apart to allow for airflow and proper growth. In terms of fertilizer and irrigation, this variety does not require much. Irrigate regularly until plants are established, about seven to 10 days, and fertilize at one-half to one-third the label rate. Dragon’s Breath celosia are adapted to a variety of soils from moist to dry as long as the soil is well-drained. While there are no major pest or disease problems with this variety, they are susceptible to root rot if the soil stays wet. Allow the soil to dry out between watering events for best performance. After established in the landscape, Dragon’s Breath celosia is drought tolerant. To keep this variety looking its best all season long, deadhead spent blooms to clean up the look of the plant and promote new flowers.

• Dragon’s Breath celosia performs well in full sun (six to eight hours of direct sunlight).
  
• Irrigate regularly until established (seven to 10 days). After establishment, plants can tolerate dry conditions.
  
• Plants prefer well-drained soil with a pH of 5.5-6.5.
  
• Plant in the spring after all danger of frost has passed.

• Dragon’s Breath celosia has an upright growth habit reaching 24 inches tall and 15 to 18 inches wide.
  
• It is suitable as a border planting in the landscape or as a thriller feature in container plantings.
  
• Space plants 18 inches apart.

• Fertilize at one-half to one-third the label rate to promote strong stems and flower production.
  
• Apply mulch around the base of the plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
  
• Deadhead to clean up the look of the plant and encourage more blooms.
  
• It has no major pest or disease issues.
  
• Little information exists on the safety of preemergence herbicides for use around Celosia argentea. Some preemergence herbicide labels, such as Pendulum 2G and Dimension EC, are safe for use around other celosia species and allow for use around unlisted bedding plants so long as the user first tests the product in a small area to ensure there is no injury. Consider performing such a test if preemergence herbicides are needed. It is the applicator’s responsibility to follow all labeled instructions when using herbicides.
  
• Postemergence herbicides containing caprylic acid (Fireworxx, HomePlate, others) may be used in targeted applications to emerged weeds so long as the spray solution does not contact celosia shoots or foliage. Follow all product label directions and restrictions when using herbicides.

Dragon’s Breath celosia has bright, scarlet flowers. Photo by Ashley Hickman

Each flower spike resembles a flame. Photo by Caroline Blanchard

The leaves on Dragon’s Breath celosia are olive green and tinged with red. Photo by Caroline Blanchard

The foliage can provide ornamental interest all its own. Photo by Caroline Blanchard