Celosia - A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Celosias belong to a family of more than 50 plants that are native to the tropical and subtropical areas of Asia, Africa and the Americas. The cultivars produce flowers that are either plume-like (Celosia Pampas Plume) or crested (the Cockscombs). They are believed to be related to Amaranths. The name Celosia comes from the Greek, kelos, meaning "burned" which probably refers to the color of the flower of the indigenous species - red. A dark red crested version of the plant was introduced into Europe in 1570. During the 18th century, the Cockscombs were considered a potted plant by the British while with the American colonists, they were a popular garden flower. Thomas Jefferson, ever the connoisseur of the
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