Celosia Planting Guide

June

celosia this month

Some notes on celosia care that hold up no matter where you garden — then check your zone for specifics.

Sun full sun

Water low

Days to harvest 60–90

Plant depth 0.1″

Spacing 9″

How to water celosia
Mulch heavily around celosia to hold soil moisture without watering more often.
Where to put celosia
celosia wants at least 6 hours of direct sun. Less than that and you'll get leggy plants with weak yields.
Check your local forecast before planting
Your zone determines the exact week to plant celosia. Pick your county below and we'll line everything up against your frost dates.

Show me celosia timing for my zone →

Celosia (Celosia argentea) encompasses the vivid cockscomb (cristata) and feathery plumed (plumosa) types that explode with color in summer heat. Drought-tolerant and disease-resistant, they thrive in the hottest parts of the season and produce long-lasting blooms both in the garden and as cut or dried flowers. A reliable filler in sunny annual beds.

Celosia argentea · Flower · Amaranthaceae family · 60–90 days to maturity

Annual Blooms in Summer Pollinator-friendly Good for cutting

Why it matters: If you're just starting a flower garden in your area, Celosia is a forgiving first pick. It tolerates imperfect soil, mild drought, and the occasional missed watering. The reward: weeks (sometimes months) of continuous color.

Get Your Personalized Celosia Planting Dates

Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.

Where Can You Grow Celosia?

Zone Compatibility for Celosia Zones 3a – 11b

1a 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b 12a 12b 13a 13b

Ideal (data available) Suitable Marginal Not recommended

Planting Dates by Zone

Zone	Start Indoors	Direct Sow	Transplant	Bloom
Zone 3a	Apr 3	Jun 5	Jun 5	Aug 7 – Oct 9
Zone 3b	Mar 29	May 31	May 31	Aug 2 – Oct 11
Zone 4a	Mar 25	May 20	May 20	Jul 22 – Oct 7
Zone 4b	Mar 27	May 15	May 15	Jul 17 – Oct 2
Zone 5a	Mar 21	May 9	May 9	Jul 11 – Oct 10
Zone 5b	Mar 14	Apr 25	Apr 25	Jun 27 – Oct 3
Zone 6a	Mar 6	Apr 17	Apr 17	Jun 19 – Oct 2
Zone 6b	Feb 27	Apr 10	Apr 10	Jun 12 – Oct 2
Zone 7a	Feb 25	Mar 25	Mar 25	May 27 – Sep 23
Zone 7b	Feb 18	Mar 18	Mar 18	May 20 – Sep 30
Zone 8a	Feb 8	Mar 1	Mar 1	May 3 – Sep 27
Zone 8b	Jan 28	Feb 11	Feb 11	Apr 15 – Sep 23
Zone 9a	Jan 13	Jan 27	Jan 27	Mar 31 – Oct 6
Zone 9b	Dec 28	Jan 4	Jan 4	Mar 8 – Sep 27
Zone 10a	Dec 4	Nov 27	Nov 27	Jan 29 – Sep 3
Zone 10b	Dec 4	Nov 20	Nov 20	Jan 22 – Sep 10
Zone 11a	Dec 4	Nov 6	Nov 6	Jan 8 – Sep 10
Zone 11b	Dec 4	Oct 30	Oct 30	Jan 1 – Sep 17

How to Plant Celosia

0.1"

Planting Depth

Between Plants

12"

Between Rows

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

Low — drought tolerant

Drought tolerant — water only when soil is dry 2" deep.

🧪 Soil pH

6 – 7

Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.

🗺️ Hardiness Zones

Zone 3a – 11b

📅 Days to Maturity

60–90 days

Quick-growing crop. Multiple plantings per season are possible.

👪 Plant Family

Amaranthaceae

Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Amaranthaceae family crops grew last year.

Succession Planting Celosia

Celosia matures in just 60–90 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 3 successive plantings by sowing every 6.9 weeks.

Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.

Companion Planting for Celosia

✅ Good Companions

Marigolds Zinnias Portulaca Vinca

Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Growing Tips for Celosia

Start seeds indoors 4–6 weeks before last frost, or direct-sow after soil warms above 60°F. Does not transplant well from large pots — sow in small cells or direct-sow. Needs full sun and warm soil; cold stress causes stunting. Pinch first bloom to encourage branching. Water at the base; wet foliage encourages fungal issues. Excellent dried flower — harvest before seeds set for the best color retention.

Saving Celosia Seeds

Recommended for Your Garden

🌱

Seed Starting Trays $8-20

Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.

🧪

Soil Test Kit $12-25

Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.

🏷️

Garden Plant Markers $6-12

Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.

Reader favourite

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Most saved seeds go bad before next season. This shows exactly when to pick, how to dry, and where to store seeds from 200 plants so yours don't.

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Celosia by State

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to grow Celosia?

Celosia (Celosia argentea) takes 60 to 90 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.

What zones can Celosia grow in?

Celosia can be grown in USDA zones 3a through 11b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.

How much sun does Celosia need?

Growing Celosia requires Full Sun (6-8+ hours), Low — drought tolerant, and soil pH of 6 to 7.