When to Plant Celosia in Florida
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.
Florida spans USDA hardiness zones 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 8b, 9a, 9b (with planting data available), so planting dates vary by your location within the state. Click your zone below for the most accurate dates.
Find Your County
Click your county for exact Celosia planting dates based on your local frost dates.
Hover over a county to see details. Click to view planting guide.
Celosia Planting Calendar for Florida
▸ Zone 10a ~364 day growing season · Full guide →
Last frost: January 1 · First frost: December 31 · 364 day season
| Activity | When | Date Range |
|---|---|---|
| Start Indoors | December 4 | Dec 4 – Dec 18 |
| Transplant Outdoors | November 27 | Nov 27 – Dec 11 |
| Direct Sow | November 27 | Nov 27 – Dec 18 |
| Bloom | January 29 | Jan 29 – Sep 3 |
▸ Zone 10b ~364 day growing season · Full guide →
Last frost: January 1 · First frost: December 31 · 364 day season
| Activity | When | Date Range |
|---|---|---|
| Start Indoors | December 4 | Dec 4 – Dec 18 |
| Transplant Outdoors | November 20 | Nov 20 – Dec 4 |
| Direct Sow | November 20 | Nov 20 – Dec 11 |
| Bloom | January 22 | Jan 22 – Sep 10 |
▸ Zone 11a ~364 day growing season · Full guide →
Last frost: January 1 · First frost: December 31 · 364 day season
| Activity | When | Date Range |
|---|---|---|
| Start Indoors | December 4 | Dec 4 – Dec 18 |
| Transplant Outdoors | November 6 | Nov 6 – Nov 20 |
| Direct Sow | November 6 | Nov 6 – Nov 27 |
| Bloom | January 8 | Jan 8 – Sep 10 |
▸ Zone 11b ~364 day growing season · Full guide →
Last frost: January 1 · First frost: December 31 · 364 day season
| Activity | When | Date Range |
|---|---|---|
| Start Indoors | December 4 | Dec 4 – Dec 18 |
| Transplant Outdoors | October 30 | Oct 30 – Nov 13 |
| Direct Sow | October 30 | Oct 30 – Nov 20 |
| Bloom | January 1 | Jan 1 – Sep 17 |
▸ Zone 8b ~276 day growing season · Full guide →
Last frost: February 25 · First frost: November 28 · 276 day season
| Activity | When | Date Range |
|---|---|---|
| Start Indoors | January 28 | Jan 28 – Feb 11 |
| Transplant Outdoors | February 11 | Feb 11 – Feb 25 |
| Direct Sow | February 11 | Feb 11 – Mar 4 |
| Bloom | April 15 | Apr 15 – Sep 23 |
▸ Zone 9a ~303 day growing season · Full guide →
Last frost: February 10 · First frost: December 10 · 303 day season
| Activity | When | Date Range |
|---|---|---|
| Start Indoors | January 13 | Jan 13 – Jan 27 |
| Transplant Outdoors | January 27 | Jan 27 – Feb 10 |
| Direct Sow | January 27 | Jan 27 – Feb 17 |
| Bloom | March 31 | Mar 31 – Oct 6 |
▸ Zone 9b ~329 day growing season · Full guide →
Last frost: January 25 · First frost: December 20 · 329 day season
| Activity | When | Date Range |
|---|---|---|
| Start Indoors | December 28 | Dec 28 – Jan 11 |
| Transplant Outdoors | January 4 | Jan 4 – Jan 18 |
| Direct Sow | January 4 | Jan 4 – Jan 25 |
| Bloom | March 8 | Mar 8 – Sep 27 |
Growing Tips for Florida
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.
Celosia in Other States
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I plant Celosia in Florida?
Planting dates for Celosia in Florida depend on your USDA zone. Florida spans zones 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 8b, 9a, 9b. Check the planting calendar above for your specific zone's frost dates and planting windows.
What zone is Florida for planting?
Florida contains USDA hardiness zones 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 8b, 9a, 9b. Your specific zone depends on your location within the state — northern and higher-elevation areas are in colder zones, while southern and coastal areas are warmer.