Dragon’s Breath® Celosia Seeds

Foliage as bright as the blooms
Has there ever been such a radiantly beautiful celosia? This variegated cockscomb offers red-hot plumes above olive-green leaves edged in and shot with red accents. A late-flowering variety, it holds beautifully, thrives in heat and humidity, and doesnt mind drying out a bit between waterings. Its the answer to the container gardeners biggest summer dilemma, and a boon for any sunny setting.Dragons Breath is a magnificent presence in the annual bed, patio pot, and vase. It grows quickly and flowers over a long, late season, extending the glory of the celosias into fall. And there is simply nothing like it in terms of eye-popping, irresistible color.Reaching 2 feet high in bloom, Dragons Breath actually increases its leaf and flower production in hot, humid weather, and likes its soil on the dry side. Many container annuals simply cannot last in the punishing conditions of August, but Dragons Breath prefers the soil to dry a bit between waterings, so those sweltering days are no problem. Amazing.The variegated foliage is another boon, keeping Dragons Breath handsome both before and after bloom as well as during its long show of color. You will love the red-and-green mix on these leaves: it shades rather than outlines, so you cant really tell where the green ends and red begins.Dragons Breath seed does best when direct sown, and once it has germinated, it would rather not be moved. Sow the seed outdoors well after all danger of frost has passed, setting it just ⅛-inch deep and covering lightly. It should sprout in 5 to 7 days. Thin the plants to about 8 inches apart for dense, leaf-to-leaf coverage. They should be blooming by mid-July from a May sowing.If you prefer to begin them indoors, heres how: Sow them at 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, ⅛-inch deep and covered lightly. After germination, grow on at 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and bottom-water with lukewarm water to avoid chills. The seedlings are usually ready to transplant in just 3 weeks. When you set them outdoors, protect them from direct sun for about a week while they acclimatize.
Genus:Celosia
Species:argentea plumosa
Bloom Start to End:Early Summer – Late Summer
Item Form: (P) Pkt of 50 seeds
Additional Characteristics:Bloom First Year, Butterfly Lovers, Direct Sow, Easy Care Plants, Flower, Free Bloomer, Long Bloomers, Season Extenders, Variegated
Bloom Color:Red
Foliage Color:Olive Green, Red, Variegated
Light Requirements:Full Sun
Moisture Requirements:Dry, Moist,  well-drained
Resistance:Drought Tolerant, Heat Tolerant, Humidity Tolerant
Soil Tolerance:Normal,  loamy
Uses:Beds, Containers, Cut Flowers, Foliage Interest, Outdoor