Cockscomb Bombay Dark Red

A magnificent new look for this heat-tolerant, floriferous sun-lover! Instead of the flowers forming a flattened mass, Bombay Dark Red sports upturned, beautifully ruffled blooms resembling exotic coral or fancy ribbonwork. The edges of the bloom are rich pumpkin-orange, shading into dark wine-red below, adding even more depth to the spectacular 4- to 6-inch display. And they arise 3 to 4 weeks sooner than other Celosias, extending the season and offering even more long-lived color for the garden and vase!

These huge blooms are so long-lasting! Expect 3 solid weeks of color for fresh arrangements, and many months when dried as Everlastings. Very tightly held, the big flowerheads arise on stiff stems atop 40- to 48-inch plants, which grow as a neat rosette about 18 inches across. And just because they begin blooming early doesn't mean they stop soon, too! You can count on a long summer bloomtime, even through the worst August temperatures.

Pink was the first and is still the most popular separate color for the Bombay Series, but if you like its looks, take a look at a couple of other colors in the series: Fiora, a bright scarlet bloom gilded in gold; and Yellow Gold, a sunny two-tone that butterflies find irresistible in the summer garden! There's even an exciting mix that includes Pink and Yellow Gold, plus 6 colors not available separately!

Celosia is a garden standout in any well-drained soil. You may direct-sow the seeds when the ground warms up in spring, or begin them indoors about 4 weeks before the last frost date for an even earlier start. They need full sun, and will begin to explode with blooms as the summer weather sets in. Easy and so elegant!

If you're growing Bombay Dark Red in a mixed annual planting, consider offsetting its rich pink with Cosmos Psyche Mix or, in northern regions, fragrant Lupine Sunrise.

Pkt is 20 seeds.