How to Grow Celosia Kelos Fire Purple
Grow Celosia Kelos Fire purple. Celebrate the fall season with Celosia Kelos Fire purple, and other fall-blooming plants. Entice pollinators to your garden with the deep, rich colors of Celosias. Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds are drawn to these vibrant and nectar-filled flowers. Providing pollinators with nectar-rich blooms is the perfect reason to grow Celosia Kelos Fire plants.
The three types of Celosia are based on the flower structure and overall growth habit. Celosia plants have either plumed, wheat, or cockscomb blooms. Plumed cultivars have blooms with an upright, feathery look and multiple flower stalks. These blooms resemble flames or plumes.
Wheat Celosia plants have slender or narrower, spike-like flower heads that resemble wheat stalks. Crested flowered Celosia plants have a dense, compact flower head that resembles twisted, velvety crests. Sometimes they are referred to as Cockscomb since the flower head looks like the fleshy red comb on a rooster’s head.
Celosia plants are common in tropical and subtropical regions. They are grown as annuals in areas with cooler temperatures. Native to Africa, the Americas, and even Asia.
Create a festive fall garden with Celosia Kelos Fire Purple. Grow Celosia from late Spring and into the fall season. Plant this annual with Echinacea and Sunbeckia plants. There are over 60 species of Celosia. In today’s post, we are focusing on the Kelos Fire Purple.
Characteristics of Celosia Kelos Fire Purple
The Kelos Fire Celosia is commonly known as Plume Celosia, Woolflower, and Prince of Wales Feather. Thrives as a tender perennial in hardy zones 10 to 11. Grows as an annual in cooler climates.
An upright annual, Celosia Kelos Fire is native to tropical areas such as Africa and the Americas. Part of the Amaranthaceae family, known for its plumed feather bloom in vibrant colors.
The plumes are several inches long and extend above the foliage. Pollinators are attracted the the vibrant plumes. This includes bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Liven up your fall garden with gorgeous Celosia plants. Pair with other fall-blooming plants, including pumpkins and gourds. Fall is for planting.
Foliage is dark green with burgundy and bronze coloring. A striking contrast with the dramatic purple, flame-like plumes. The leaves are lance or ovate-shaped. The plumes and striking leaves on a dense, compact plant form a lush, upright growth habit.
How to Grow Celosia Kelos Fire – About Celosia
First, the features of the Celosia Kelos Fire purple. These are the best growing conditions for this annual:
- Latin name is Celosia plumosa
- Common names include Cockscomb, Plume Celosia, Woolflower, and the Prince of Wales Feather.
- Makes an excellent accent of soft, feathery plumes in purple
- Grows in zones 10 to 11
- Provide 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily
- Reaches 14” to 18” tall
- Allow 8” to 10” apart when planting en masse
- Flowers are vibrant purple plumes above the bronze colored foliage
- Blooms from spring until frost
- Foliage is dark green with touches of burgundy and bronze
- Attracts pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds
- Growth habit is upright
- Grow in garden beds or in patio containers
- Plant in well-draining soil
- Use plumes in fresh or dried floral arrangements
- Water regularly, but allow the soil to dry out between waterings to prevent overwatering.
- Native to the tropical areas of Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia
Garden Site Selection for Celosia Kelos Fire
Consider the garden site where you plant the Kelos Fire Purple. To maintain the colorful purple plumes and burgundy-purple foliage, this species requires full sun with a minimum of 6 to 8 hours. Plant in a sunny location. Plant in late spring or early summer after the last frost has passed.
Tolerant of heat and humidity, water regularly but allow to dry between waterings. Although if you are growing this Celosia in a container, it may require additional watering. If growing Celosia in the ground, then water 2 to 3 times per week until established.
Soil Preparation for Celosia
- Prepare the garden soil area by loosening and breaking the soil apart using a trowel or shovel.
- Celosia thrives in well-draining soil. Mix existing soil with sphagnum peat moss to release excess water away from the root system in the garden bed. For an added boost, pour some compost into the soil mixture.
- Sprinkle milky spore powder in the soil to eliminate grubs. Milky spore powder is an organic product that eliminates grubs in the soil before they develop into Japanese Beetles. Skip the milky spore step if your garden doesn’t have grubs or Japanese Beetles. Milky Spore prevents grubs laid by the Japanese Beetles from emerging the following year. Grubs that live below ground are destructive. They munch on the grass roots. The adult Japanese Beetles eat flowers and foliage of many plants.
If you are planting your Celosia in a container, then mix the peat moss and compost with some quality potting soil. Then fill a container with the mixture and sprinkle a small amount of milky spore to avoid grubs and Japanese Beetles.
How to Grow Kelos Fire Purple
The next step is to plant the Celosia plant.
- Dig a hole at the same depth as the plant container and twice the width of the plant’s root ball.
- Second, drop the plant with the crown 1” above the soil level. Cover the root system with the surrounding soil. Pack the soil around the plant roots to eliminate any air pockets.
- Third, build a water basin around the plant. A water basin allows water to sink to the roots rather than run off. A water basin is merely a miniature well that encircles the plant. Think of it as a moat, but smaller. It captures any runoff water, which is then absorbed into the ground. Water two to three times a week for the first year until the plant is established.
- Finally, during the warmer, drier months, water regularly. This is especially important when temperatures reach the 90s or when there are several days without rainfall.
When to Plant Celosia
Plant Kelos Fire as soon as you can during the early summer or fall seasons. Allow the Celosia time to adapt to the flower bed. Water the Celosia 2 to 3 times per week to ensure the plant settles in. Monitor the plant every few days for the first year.
Tips for Growing the Perfect Celosia Plumes
- Water weekly to support regular blooming.
- Fertilize with an all-purpose fertilizer at planting time, followed by a high-phosphorus fertilizer monthly to encourage new blooms.
- Add mulch around the Celosia plant to retain water during summer.
- When planting several Celosia plants together, space plants 10” apart to allow for growth and air circulation.
- Remove spent blooms to maintain a neat appearance
- Develops into a pyramid-shaped plant with no significant pruning needed
- Grow as a specimen plant, as a focal point in an ornamental garden, or in containers
- Use as a centerpiece or in a festive fall display container
- Avoid overwatering to prevent mildew conditions
- Native to tropical climates
Companion Plants for Celosia Plants
- Sunbeckia Juliana Rudbeckia
- Chrysanthemums
- Create a fall display with Pumpkins and Gourds
- Display alongside Corn Stalks for a Fall theme
With minimal planning, Celosia will thrive quickly. You’ll need a sunny garden bed, water, and space to grow. Then, sit back and enjoy the Fall color display. You’ll love the vibrant colors of the Celosia plant. And as a bonus, you’ll attract tons of pollinators.
This concludes our post. Grow Celosia Kelos Fire purple for a festive fall garden. Please tell us what your thoughts are on this plant. Do you have a favorite Celosia plant?
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If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. We are always ready to help. Include your hardiness zone and light requirements with any gardening questions. Thank you for dropping by.
Mary
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