Celosia showstoppers: RHS People’s Choice winners
Velvety flowers, fiery colours and dramatic foliage helped these standout celosias win over visitors in the 2026 RHS Wisley People’s Choice vote
Celosias (cockscombs) are known for their vibrant colours, eye-catching flowers and long-lasting summer displays. At RHS Wisley, cultivars from the Celosia cristata , Celosia plumosa and Celosia spicata groups were grown side by side in the 2026 Celosia trial , highlighting the incredible variety found within this striking plant group.
Visitors explored the displays throughout summer, discovering new introductions and well-established favourites. From sculptural crests to flame-like plumes, the trial showcased the shapes, textures and colours that make celosias such popular garden plants.
Nicola Stocken
Trial plants showcase the remarkable diversity of Celosia colours and form
"Celosias were last trialled at RHS Wisley in 2009. Since then, a number of exciting new varieties have been introduced, including forms suited to naturalistic planting, cut flower production and drying. This trial gave visitors a valuable opportunity to see and compare the remarkable diversity of celosias now available."
How to grow celosias
Celosias are colourful, easy-to-grow summer bedding plants that thrive in a sunny, sheltered spot. Their vibrant flowers bring long-lasting interest to borders, containers and cutting gardens, flowering from summer until the first frosts. With varieties ranging from compact plants to eye-catching varieties, there’s a Celosia to suit every garden style.
Try growing at home >
RHS People’s Choice Winners
First place
Celosia argentea var. cristata (Cristata Group) ‘Dracula’
The winning Celosia captivated visitors with its unusual crested flowers, velvety texture and rich deep-red colouring. Set against burgundy-flushed foliage, the flowers create a dramatic display that works particularly well in containers and as a cut flower.
Voters’ comments included:
- Unusual flower shape. Fabulous deep colours of both leaves and flowers
- Beautiful rich colour – brain-shaped flowers
- Love the vibrant red and how unusual they are
- Looks like velvet
Second place
Celosia argentea var. cristata (Plumosa Group) BRIGHT SPARKS BRIGHT RED BRONZE LEAF (‘Cifzbrspbredbronze’) (Bright Sparks Series)
This eye-catching variety impressed visitors with bright red, plume-like flowers rising above rich bronze-green foliage. Its strong branching habit and repeat flowering kept the display looking colourful and eye-catching throughout the season.
Voters’ comments included:
- It looks so fluffy – I want to pet it
- Vibrant colour. Looked consistently good across the beds
- Love the bronze leaf/crimson flower combination – in perfect proportion to each other
- Looks like fire going up in the sky
Third place
Celosia argentea var. cristata (Plumosa Group) ’Dragon's Breath’
Visitors were drawn to the vibrant combination of bright-red feathery plumes and dark-red foliage, which gave this variety a dramatic, exotic feel. Its bushy growth and vibrant colouring made it a standout choice for containers and seasonal displays.
Voters’ comments included:
- Vibrant exotic look
- Lovely colour foliage and coordinated flowers
- Bushy and vibrant colours of both flowers and foliage
- Beautiful in a pot
What visitors loved
Nicola Stocken
Celosias fill the trial beds with a dazzling display of rich reds, pinks and golds
Popular characteristics
- Vibrant red flowers
- Dark or contrasting foliage
- Unusual flower shapes
- Soft, velvety or fluffy textures
Visitors were particularly captivated by celosias with rich, vibrant colours, with deep reds and crimson shades proving especially popular among the winning varieties. Many comments highlighted the dramatic contrast between flowers and foliage, particularly when paired with bronze or burgundy-toned leaves.
The unique shapes and textures of the flowers were another clear favourite. From the sculptural crests of Cristata types to the soft, plume-like blooms of Plumosa varieties, visitors were captivated by plants that looked both unusual and full of character. Many described the flowers as velvety, fluffy and unlike anything else in the summer garden.
More about RHS trials
Full results from RHS Trials are published after judging and ratification are complete.
In addition to expert assessment, selected trials include a People’s Choice vote, inviting visitors to choose their favourite plants and providing a valuable snapshot of public opinion.
Find out more about RHS Plant Trials
