Cockscomb Flower: Velvety, Smooth and Unique Beautiful Flowers

Image by Chong Thao from Pixabay

Cockscomb are one of the commonly grown flowering plants. Cockscomb flower plants are drought resistant hardy plants and can tolerate heat up to an extent. Cockscomb flowers are velvety to touch, smooth and colorful with unique patterns. The plants require very little care and are easy to maintain.

Quick Details of Cockscomb Flower Plant

Cockscomb Buying Instructions

• Multiple varieties of Cockscomb flower are available to buy the plant of your choice.
• Some plants remain very short in height so buy accordingly.
• Buy a bushy plant with lots of branches.
• You can buy couple of plants with different colors of flowers to make your garden or balcony more attractive.

Overview of Cockscomb Flower Plant

Image by Manfred Richter from Pixabay

These plants are annual flowering plants belonging to the family Amaranthaceae and native to the Tropics. The plants can grow up to a height of 3-4 feet tall. The leaves are light green to burgundy colored with serrated margins. The mid rib of the leaves have the same color of that of the flowers. The flowers can either be feathery plumes, tall and spiky or soral like in red, yellow, orange, pink and white colors. Flowers can remain in blossom state for 8 to 10 weeks depending on the soil conditions.

Some of the commonly grown varieties of Cockscomb flower include:

• Castle Scarlet: The flowers are crimson feathery plumes.
• Bombay Series: The flowers come in red, purple and yellow color and looks like brain.
• Golden yellow: Yellow plumes with dark green leaves.
• Flamingo Feather: This variety of Cockscomb flower plant has pink spiky flowers

Usage and Advantage of Cockscomb

• Grown as an ornamental palnt.
• The plant parts are edible and used in salad and other food

General Care for Cockscomb

Soil

They prefer a well draining, nutrient rich, slightly acidic or neutral soil.

Water

Deep water the plants ones in a week or when the soil is dry. They are drought resistant and can tolerate heat without wilting.

Sunlight

The plants prefer partial shade to promote more flowering. The plants grow taller when they are placed in bright direct sunlight and sometimes this reduces the blooming.

Temperature

The plants prefer warm humid conditions. They can also tolerate heat. The plants are prone to cold conditions and should be shifted indoors.

Special Care

The plants can be cut back to 1/4 the actual size before growing period. Deadheading can encourage more flowering. Prune the tips to promote more branching and bushier growth. Shift the plants indoors in case of harsh winters. Mist the plants or place a pebble tray below the pot during hot climatic conditions.

Fertilization

The plants can be fed with any organic fertilizer or fertilizer rich in nitrogen ones in a month. In case of rich fertile soil, they did not require fertilizer.

Pests and other problems for Cockscomb

These plants are not prone to many pests or diseases when grown under optimum conditions. However, excess watering or overcrowding can cause the plants to retain the moisture attracting fungal pathogens causing leaf spots and root rot. This also attracts pests like aphids, mites and white flies. Use a mild fungicide or remove the infected parts. The pests can be treated with using a mild soap spray or neem oil.

Propagation of Cockscomb

Cockscomb flower produces large amount of seeds and these plants can be propagated through seeds. Sow the seeds 1/4 inch deep into the ground and cover them slightly with soil or compost. Cover the pot with transparent plastic cover to maintain the moisture in the soil. Provide ample amount of sunlight and water them regularly. The seeds germinate within 2-4 weeks.