Floral Friday ~ Celosia

Summer’s bountiful flower… CELOSIA.  This has been an American  summer garden staple since the colonists.  Thomas Jefferson, known for his unique taste in botanicals, included the crested coxcomb varieties in his flower garden.  The name celosia is derived from the Greek work, kelos, meaning “burned.”

Related to the amaranths, celosia are either plume-like (feather or caracas) or crested (coxcombs).  They both can add just the right amount of dimension to arrangements.  Celosia also dries well!

In the Victorian language of flowers, Celosias symbolized humor, warmth, and silliness.