All America Selections Bronze Medal winner for 1985. Extremely large flowers often 12in long, produced in abundance. Colours are scarlet, yellow, cream, rose and deep red. Attractive and unusual pot plants also suitable for bedding in a warm sunny sheltered border. They are very uniform and make good cut flowers. Flowers late summer. Height: 60cm (24in).

Sow early spring at 20-25C (68-77F) in a good seed compost. Keep soil damp but not wet. Sealing in a polythene bag after sowing is helpful. Germination usually takes 14-21 days.

When seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant and grow on in cooler conditions. For pot plants, transplant the seedlings into 7.5cm (3in) pots and finally 13cm (5in) pots, grow well ventilated. Water regularly and give occasional mist spray. For bedding plants gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions for 10-15 days before planting out after all risk of frost, 23-30cm (9-12in) apart in a sunny sheltered spot in rich well drained soil.

Celosias resent root disturbance so transplant with extra care.