Cramer's Amazon
What's special about Cramer's Amazon
Plumed 4–5 ft giant in flame red and magenta. Grower favorite for tall focal stems.
Growing this variety
Cramer's Amazon follows the same growing basics as Celosia. Variety-specific maturity above; everything else below applies to the whole Celosia family.
Germination
Spacing & depth
How to plant
Surface-sow into warm damp soil — needs light. Do not transplant until soil is thoroughly warm; cold-shocked celosia stalls all season. Pinch tips at 6 in for plume types to encourage branching.
Grower's tip
Comes in three forms — crested (cockscomb brain-like heads), plumed (feathery), and wheat (spike). All dry perfectly for everlasting bouquets.
Soil preferences
Well-drained garden soil. Native/wildflower species prefer lean soil; cutting flowers prefer richer beds.
6.0–7.0
Work 1 in of compost into beds before sowing. Skip nitrogen fertilizer on wildflowers — it favors foliage over blooms.
Watering
1 in per week during establishment, drought-tolerant once rooted for most species.
Deep, infrequent soakings at the base. Overhead water on ornamentals promotes botrytis and rust.
Overwatered: rotted crowns, mildew, floppy stems. Underwatered: small blooms, curled leaves, quick fade.
Prefers top-watering — Trees are always top-watered — deep slow soak at the drip line, never at the trunk. Bottom-watering only makes sense for nursery seedlings.
Temperature tolerance
60–80°F (16–27°C) ideal for most annuals
50–65°F (10–18°C)
Cool-season annuals (larkspur, poppy, snapdragon) tolerate light frost; warm-season annuals (zinnia, cosmos, marigold) are frost-tender.
Container growing
Possible with the right cultivar
8–14 in (20–35 cm) wide
Compact and dwarf types do best in pots; tall cutting flowers need staking.
Succession planting
Sow cutting flowers (zinnia, cosmos, sunflower) every 3 weeks through midsummer for continuous cut stems.
Detailed harvesting
Cut in early morning when stems are turgid. For cutting varieties, harvest when the bud is just showing color and 1–2 outer petals have opened.
Post-harvest storage & preservation
Immediately re-cut stems underwater and place in clean cool water for 4 hrs before arranging. Petals can be dried on screens for potpourri or crafts.
Culinary, medicinal & other uses
Cut flowers, dried arrangements, pollinator habitat, edible garnishes (borage, nasturtium, calendula, viola).
Medicinal or traditional uses are shared for interest only — this is not medical advice. Consult a qualified professional before using any plant medicinally.
Seed saving
Mostly insect-pollinated (outcrossing).
For pure strains, isolate 150–800 ft or bag heads. Wildflower mixes are meant to cross freely.
Stop deadheading favorite blooms; let heads dry brown and rattling on the stem, then collect into a paper bag.
Your zone's planting calendar
Pick your USDA hardiness zone and we'll estimate the key dates for celosia in your area. These are regional averages — always check your own last-frost forecast before sowing.
My Cramer's Amazon Celosia notes
Cramer's Amazon Celosia seeds on hand
Track packets and loose seeds you already have. Private to your account.
Par level — leave at 0 for no alert. Anything below par shows on Seed Starting and your shopping list.
From your kitchen — grow celosia from what you already have
Deadhead less. Let the best blooms fade and set seed on the plant — that's your next year's packet.
- 1Mark 2–3 of your favorite flowers with a bit of yarn and stop deadheading them.
- 2Wait until the seed head or pod dries fully on the plant — brown, papery, and rattling.
- 3Cut whole heads into a paper bag on a dry day; shake or rub to free seed.
- 4Sieve out chaff and store cool and dry in a labeled envelope.
Storage: 2–5 years for most flower seed.
Order more seeds
Running low? Reorder from one of these seed stores.
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Other Celosia varieties
Fan Dance Purple
90 daysTall crested type with velvety magenta-purple brain-form heads on 3 ft cut-flower stems.
Ruby Parfait
85 daysPlumed celosia with rich raspberry-and-rose feathery spires. 30 in stems, long vase life.
Amish Cockscomb
100 daysHeirloom crested type with massive velvety magenta and burgundy 'brains' on stocky 3 ft plants.
Flamingo Feather
85 daysWheat celosia with pink-and-cream tapered spikes on 3–4 ft stems. Airy, meadow-like habit.