As the saying goes, “I was this many years old’ when I discovered how beautiful celosia can be.
I know. I know. I know.
I’ve already posted several times about this Celosia ‘Flamma Orange’.
But as it grows, it keeps getting better and better and hotter and oranger, and when will it end?
Fall, I’m guessing. When it gets hit by frost.
I never was much of a “celosia” gardener as they say. (Okay, nobody has ever said that, but thanks for letting me be the first.) The other day, I went to Costco, as one does on a summer morning, and they had planting bowls with celosia in them. I didn’t take a picture but I can tell you right now that I walked right by those celosias and with a quick glance and maybe an eye roll told myself, “My ‘Flamma Orange’ celosia is so much better than those celosias.
Because it is and always will be.
Honestly, this is becoming the “remember 2023 when I grew those orange celosias” summer. I’ll be sitting one day reflecting and it will go something like this:
Me: “Remember 2023 when I grew those beautiful orange celosias? That was quite the flower.”
Other Person: Wasn’t that the summer of the big storm that caused the major power outage across the whole county when you were without power for 46 hours, the one that knocked down the neighbor’s big pear tree?”
Me: Might have been, but those celosias were so pretty.
Other Person: Wasn’t that the summer when your sweet peas bloomed so late you decided to save the seeds? And you grew those pretty sunflowers?
Me: Possibly, but those celosias were so orange.
Other Person: Wasn’t that summer (insert any major event).
Me: I think so, but those celosias looked so much like flames that I thought I might have to put a fire extinquisher next to them just in case.
And so forth.
I’ve been looking at other celosias that have been named All-America selections and found ‘New Look Yellow’ and ‘New Look Red’. What if I planted them with ‘Flamma Orange’? Now that would be a bonfire of a planter!
I love this post.
Thank you, Jeanette. I enjoyed writing it early this morning.
In line, right behind the violas, vying to be Carol’s fave flower is… you guessed it! Celosia, heh heh.
Oh no! Nothing will take the place of violas… though violas are more of a spring/fall flower so maybe celosia can be my favorite summer flower?
You’ve convinced me, Carol, I need to have Flamma orange in my garden next summer! I tried some of Lowe’s bedding Celosias this summer in my hanging baskets, but combined with other flowers–and these have hardly grown. I guess it’s a lesson learned–Celosias don’t get along well with other flowers in baskets.