How to save seeds from Celosia – Pink Flamingo

Celosia Pink Flamingo (Celosia argentea spicata) is a pretty spiky annual flower that grows up to 3 feet tall. It is in the Amranth family and provides blooms from summer until fall. Celosia prefers full sun and good rich soil. Once established it is drought tolerant. Because its flowers resemble the head of a grain plant, it’s considered a wheat cultivar. I love the texture of the flowers. In addition, Celosia presses nicely and can be used for art creations. In this article, I will share how to save seeds from Celosia – Pink Flamingo.

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Why save seeds?

Here are five reasons why I like to save seeds.

• Save money – Each seed you save means that you do not have to purchase new seeds
• Preserve heirloom varieties – Heirloom varieties are seeds that have been in existence for over 50 years. Someone took the time to continuously save these seeds year after year.
• Develop a deeper understanding of a plant’s lifecycle – Careful observation of the lifecycle of a plant is required when saving seeds. By this observation, you are learning more about the plant.
• Have a plant that does well in your environment – When saving seeds, we choose those plants that have done the best in our garden. Over the years, the plant will continue to adapt and hopefully be bountiful.
• Have seeds to share with family and friends – It’s so nice to share seeds with others who share your passion for gardening. Further, it’s more special when you save the seeds that are being shared.

Celosia Pink Flamingo is one of the easiest plants from which to save seeds. However, the art of seed saving is patience. Wait for the flower stalk to lose most of its color and then test following the directions below. If you can’t find the seeds, then wait another week and try again.

How to save seeds from Celosia – Pink Flamingo

Step 1 – Choose your plants

Check the variety of Celosia that you have in your garden. Seeds should only be saved from open-pollinated varieties. Pink Flamingo is open-pollinated and thus seeds can be saved. If you have multiple Celosia plants, choose the healthiest plant or the one that has the prettiest flowers.

Step 2 – Harvesting seeds

The seeds are contained within the blooms of the Pink Flamingo. You will notice that the color of each flower begins to fade from the bottom up.

• Once most of the flower is faded, clip off the flower head. It’s best to do this on a dry day.
• Put a piece of paper on a table and place the bloom on the paper.
• Gently rub your fingers (thumb and index finger) along the bloom, pulling down along the flower head.
• When you look inside, you will see small black seeds. As you rub the flower, the seeds will begin to fall on the paper. There can be a lot of seeds in a single flower head.

Step 3 – Drying seeds

It is important for seeds to be completely dry before storing. Let the Celosia seeds rest on the paper for 1 or 2 days before storing.

Step 4 – Storing seeds

In general, seeds need to be stored in a dry and cool location to maintain nutrients and inhibit germination. Considerations for seed storage are temperature, moisture, and consistency. Seed storage will impact the viability of seeds in future years.

• A temperature between 32° and 41°F is perfect. Storing seeds in the refrigerator is a good option.
• Place the seeds in an envelope. To prevent dampness, add a packet of silica gel or dry rice to the envelope.
• Label the envelope with the following information:
  • Type of seed (e.g., Celosia)
  • Variety (e.g., Pink Flamingo)
  • Date Saved
• To keep the seeds dry, place the envelope in an airtight container.
• Lastly, store in a location that is consistent regarding temperature and moisture. For example, the garage or a basement are not good places to store seeds because the temperature and moisture levels are inconsistent over time.

When stored in the right conditions, Celosia seeds should remain viable for 2-4 years.

What to do with Celosia Flowers?

One of the things that I love to do with Celosia is to press the flower and use it in artwork projects. Below is a pressed Celosia flower used as the artwork on a greeting card. You can check out my ESTY Shop for more information on how to buy this card.

Because of their height, Celosia is great as a centerpiece in a planter with other flowers. In the garden, plant Celosia behind smaller flowers for a dramatic border.

In conclusion

It’s very easy to save seeds from Celosia – Pink Flamingo. Just follow the four-step process described above: select, harvest, dry, and store your saved seeds. Give it a try and let me know how you make out with saving seeds from Celosia.

Additional Information

You may find the following blog posts interesting.

• The basics: How to save seeds from your garden
• Saving Zinnia Seeds
• Saving Dill Seeds
• The Complete Guide to Starting Seeds Indoors
• How to store and organize a Seed Collection