silver cock's comb
Celosia argentea L.
Celosia argentea is a tropical African annual whose wild-form flower spikes differ markedly from cultivated cockscombs. Kew’s Flora of Iraq account discusses the modified flowering forms produced in cultivation. The species belongs to the amaranth family, with many small flowers packed into each dense inflorescence. Kew POWO: Celosia argentea, with regional flora descriptions
Botanical name
Celosia argentea L. is accepted by Kew, matching the catalog’s species identity without assigning a cultivated crested or plumed form. Kew POWO: Celosia argentea, with regional flora descriptions
Recognizing the plant
Its characteristic wild-form display is a dense, silvery or pinkish spike, pointed at first and becoming more cylindrical as it develops. Regional floras describe erect, often branching stems and smooth, narrow leaves. In Flora of China, the flowering spikes carry shiny pale bracts and white to pinkish floral parts, with purple anthers adding a small detail within the crowded display. The fruits remain enclosed by persistent floral parts, while the seeds are small and dark. Kew POWO: Celosia argentea, with regional flora descriptionsFlora of China: Celosia argentea
Seasonal development
China
The Chinese account records flowering from May to August and fruiting from June to October. These local dates should not be transferred unchanged to every tropical climate. Flora of China: Celosia argentea
Native range
Kew accepts the species as an annual native to tropical Africa, now widely encountered elsewhere. Kew POWO: Celosia argentea, with regional flora descriptions
Botanical sources
Reviewed 2026-10-11. Seasonal development varies with location and growing conditions.