(Plumed)
(Crested)
Common name: Cockscomb
Family: Amaranthaceae, Amaranth
Height x width: 6-24" x 8-12"
Growth rate: moderate
Foliage: alternate, entire or seldom lobed, linear-lanceolate to 2" ; usually green, occasionally red
Flowers: inflorescence plumed spike or crested; reds, pink, oranges, yellows
Hardiness: annual
Soil: well-drained, moist, fertile; tolerates dry
Light: sun
Pests and problems: leaf spots, stem and root rots, spider mites, root nematodes
Landscape habit, uses: border fronts, massing, cut and dried flowers; erect to rounded habit; space 6-12" apart for bedding, 3" for cutting varieties
Other interest: flowers resemble rooster's comb, hence the name; genus from the Greek kelos meaning "burned" refering to flower colors
Other culture: native to tropical Africa; tolerate heat well
Propagation: seeds (30,000 per oz.) sown 4-6 weeks before planting out, grow seedlings above 60ºF to prevent stunting
Species:
argentea var. cristata (ar-gen' tee-ah chris-tah' tah)--only
species commonly seen
Cultivars: (of above species), those marked * are most commonly seen
Childsii Group--globe-shaped terminal flowers, various colors
Cristata Group (C. cristata)--crested teminal flowers, various colors
Plumosa Group (C. plumosa)--plumed flower spikes, terminal or branched, various colors
Spicata Group--slender flower heads of metallic pink or yellow, narrow
foliage
| Cultivars, other taxa | Group | height, in. | flowers | foliage |
| *'Apricot Brandy' | Plumosa | 10-14 | orange | green, AAS 1981 |
| *Castle Hybrids | Plumosa | 10-14 | various | green, pink AAS 1990 |
| *Century Hybrids | Plumosa | 24-36 | various | green |
| Chief Hybrids | Cristata | 12-24 | various | green, bred for cutting |
| Coral Garden Hybrids | Cristata | 10-12 | mix | green |
| Empress Hybrids | Cristata | 10-12 | various | green |
| 'Fiery Feather' | Plumosa | 10-14 | red | green, cut or dried |
| 'Fireglow' | Cristata | 12-24 | cardinal red | green, wide flowers |
| 'Fairy Fountains' | Plumosa | 10-14 | mix | green |
| Floradale Hybrids | Cristata | 12-24 | bright cherry | green |
| 'Forest Fire' | Plumosa | 24-36 | blood red | red |
| Geisha Hybrids | Plumosa | 10-14 | various | green |
| 'Golden Feather' | Plumosa | 10-14 | golden | green |
| 'Golden Triumph' | Plumosa | 24-36 | golden | green |
| Jewel Box Hybrids | Cristata | 6-8 | mix | green |
| Kewpie Hybrids | Plumosa | 10-14 | various | green, sideshoots |
| Kimono Hybrids | Plumosa | 10-14 | mix | green, early, uniform |
| *'New Look' | Plumosa | 10-14 | red | red, branched |
| Pampas Plume Hybrids | Plumosa | 24-36 | mix | green |
| 'Pink Candle' | Spicata | 24-36 | rose-pink | green, for cuts and dried |
| 'Pink Flamingo' | Spicata | 24-36 | pink | red |
| 'Purple Flamingo' | Spicata | 24-36 | purple | red |
| *'Prestige Scarlet' | Cristata | 12-24 | scarlet | green, AAS 1997 |
| 'Purple Flamingo' | Spicata | 24-36 | purple | red leaves and stems |
| 'Red Glow' | Plumosa | 10-14 | rose red | green, good branching |
| Sparkler Hybrids | Plumosa | 24-36 | various | green, cutting and bedding |
| 'Toreador' | Cristata | 12-24 | bright red | green, 12" wide flowers |
| 'Treasure Chest' | Cristata | 6-8 | mix | green, 10" flowers |
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