Celosia (cockscomb) trial 2026

Objectives and purpose of the trial

This trial aims to assess the performance of new Celosia (cockscomb) cultivars against well‑established varieties, including those that received awards in the 2019 trial at RHS Garden Wisley in Surrey, to determine which offer the best garden value. By comparing the three main groups, Celosia cristata, Celosia plumosa and Celosia spicata, the RHS Trials team will consider traits such as colour, form and the long flowering season that typically lasts from late spring to the first frost. Held again at RHS Wisley, the trial will help identify top‑performing cultivars that may be considered for the RHS Recommended: Award of Garden Merit.
Soft pink Celosia (Spicata) blooms rising above slender green foliage
Feathery Celosia (Plumosa) glowing with rich crimson colour

Judges and criteria

Judging criteria

The following factors are all taken into consideration as part of the judging of the trial:

  • Habit
  • Colour and appeal
  • Scent

  • Pests and disease resistance
  • Length of flowering

List of plants in the trial

View all the Celosias on trial at RHS Wisley
  • Celosia argenta ‘Sol Gekko Green’
  • Celosia argentea (Plumosa Group) FIRST FLAME RED (‘Pas905170’) (First Flame Series)
  • Celosia argentea (Plumosa Group) FIRST FLAME YELLOW (‘Pas1350211’) (First Flame Series)
  • Celosia argentea (Spicata Group) CELWAY TERRACOTTA (‘Celter’) (Celway Series)
  • Celosia argentea (Spicata Group) CELWAY WHITE (‘Celwhi’) (Celway Series)
  • Celosia argentea (Spicata Group) CONITO VELVET
  • Celosia argentea (Spicata Group) KELOS ATOMIC DEEP PURPLE (‘Bkceladp’) (Kelos Atomic Series)
  • Celosia argentea (Spicata Group) KELOS ATOMIC NEON PINK (‘Bkcelanp’) (Kelos Atomic Series)
  • Celosia argentea (Spicata Group) KELOS ATOMIC ROCKET PURPLE (Kelos Atomic Series)
  • Celosia argentea (Spicata Group) KELOS ATOMIC VIOLET (‘Bkcelav’) (Kelos Atomic Series)
  • Celosia argentea (Spicata Group) ‘Flamingo Feather’
  • Celosia argentea (Spicata Group) ‘Flamingo Purple’
  • Celosia argentea (Spicata Group) ‘Sharon’
  • Celosia argentea (Spicata Group) wild origin
  • Celosia argentea (Spicata Group) ‘Xantippe’
  • Celosia argentea Nana Series (mixed)
  • Celosia argentea Spicata Group Conito Series (mixed)
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara (Plumosa Group) ‘Calimba Yellow’
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara (Cristata Group) BRAINIAC MIXED
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara (Cristata Group) ‘Act Verda’
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara (Cristata Group) ‘Brainiac Lightning Yellow’
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara (Cristata Group) ‘Brainiac Mad Magenta’
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara (Cristata Group) ‘Brainiac Raven Red’
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara (Cristata Group) ‘Brainiac Robo Red’
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara (Cristata Group) ‘Brainiac Think Pink’
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara (Cristata Group) ‘Dracula’
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara (Plumosa Group) BRIGHT SPARKS BRIGHT RED BRONZE LEAF (‘Clfzbrspredbronze’) (Bright Sparks Series)
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara (Plumosa Group) BRIGHT SPARKS BURGUNDY (‘Clfzbrspbur’) (Bright Sparks Series)
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara (Plumosa Group) BRIGHT SPARKS PINK (‘Clfzbrspink’) (Bright Sparks Series)
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara (Plumosa Group) BRIGHT SPARKS SCARLET (Bright Sparks Series)
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara (Plumosa Group) BRIGHT SPARKS YELLOW (‘Clfzbrspyellow’) (Bright Sparks Series)
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara (Plumosa Group) FASHION LOOK MIX
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara (Plumosa Group) FIRST FLAME PURPLE (‘Pas1295065’) (First Flame Series)
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara (Plumosa Group) KELOS FIRE LIME (‘Bkcelflm’) (Kelos Fire Series)
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara (Plumosa Group) KELOS FIRE MAGENTA (Kelos Fire Series)
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara (Plumosa Group) KELOS FIRE ORANGE (‘Bkcelor’) (Kelos Fire Series)
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara (Plumosa Group) KELOS FIRE PINK (‘Bkcelfpk’) (Kelos Fire Series)
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara (Plumosa Group) KELOS FIRE PURPLE (‘Bkcelfpr’) (Kelos Fire Series)
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara (Plumosa Group) KELOS FIRE RED (‘Bkcelfrd’) (Kelos Fire Series)
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara (Plumosa Group) KELOS FIRE SCARLET (‘Bekelos Scarlet’) (Kelos Fire Series)
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara (Plumosa Group) KELOS FIRE YELLOW (‘Bkcelfyl’) (Kelos Fire Series)
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara (Plumosa Group) SUNDAY DARK PINK (‘Cel1027037’) (Sunday Series)
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara (Plumosa Group) ‘Calimba Cherry Red’
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara (Plumosa Group) ‘Calimba Rose’
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara (Plumosa Group) ‘Calimba Scarlet’
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara (Plumosa Group) ‘Century Fire’
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara (Plumosa Group) ‘Century Pink’ (Century Series)
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara (Plumosa Group) ‘Century Red’ (Century Series)
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara (Plumosa Group) ‘Century Rose’ (Century Series)
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara (Plumosa Group) ‘Century Yellow’ (Century Series)
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara (Plumosa Group) ‘Dragon's Breath’
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara (Plumosa Group) ‘Fresh Look Gold’ (Fresh Look Series)
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara (Plumosa Group) ‘Fresh Look Orange’ (Fresh Look Series)
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara (Plumosa Group) ‘Fresh Look Red’ (Fresh Look Series)
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara (Plumosa Group) ‘Fresh Look Yellow’ (Fresh Look Series)
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara (Plumosa Group) ‘Scarlet Plume’
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara (Plumosa Group) ‘Sylphid’
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara CHIEF CARMINE (Chief Series)
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara CHIEF FIRE (‘Sakcel002’) (Chief Series)
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara CHIEF GOLD (Chief Series)
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara CHIEF PERSIMMON (Chief Series)
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara CHIEF RED (Chief Series)
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara CHIEF ROSE (Chief Series)
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara Plumosa Group (mixed)
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara Plumosa Group Bright Sparks Series
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara Plumosa Group Century Series
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara Plumosa Group Kimono Series
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara Plumosa Group Lilliput Kewpie Series (mixed)
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara Plumosa Group Look Eternal Flames
  • Celosia argentea var. cristara Plumosa Group Yukata Series (mixed)
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For more information on our RHS Plant Trials or to access older trial reports, please get in touch with our team via email at [email protected].

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