Reien
Celosia argentea cristata
Photo: Rhododendrites · Wikimedia Commons · (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Vivid red combs with attractive, dark red foliage and stems. 2-4" wide scarlet combs on sturdy, 18-24" long stems are useful for fresh or dried cut flowers. Similar overall performance to the Chief series but earlier to bloom. In our trials, Reien is ready for harvest 5-7 days earlier than the Chief series. Uniform bloom time, plant habit, and height. Also known as cockscomb and crested cock's comb. Unauthorized reproduction and sale of seeds is prohibited by the breeder.
Harvest
90-115d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
10–11
USDA hardiness
Height
9-18 inches
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Reien in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 flower →Zone Map
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Reien · Zones 10–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | May – June | July – August | July – September | — |
| Zone 2 | April – May | June – July | June – August | — |
| Zone 11 | January – January | January – February | January – March | — |
| Zone 12 | January – January | January – February | January – March | — |
| Zone 13 | January – January | January – February | January – March | — |
| Zone 3 | April – May | June – July | June – August | — |
| Zone 4 | March – April | June – June | June – July | — |
| Zone 5 | March – April | May – June | May – July | — |
| Zone 6 | March – April | May – June | May – July | — |
| Zone 7 | February – March | April – May | April – June | — |
| Zone 8 | February – March | April – May | April – June | — |
| Zone 9 | January – February | March – April | March – May | — |
| Zone 10 | January – January | February – March | February – April | — |
Complete Growing Guide
Vivid red combs with attractive, dark red foliage and stems. 2-4" wide scarlet combs on sturdy, 18-24" long stems are useful for fresh or dried cut flowers. Similar overall performance to the Chief series but earlier to bloom. In our trials, Reien is ready for harvest 5-7 days earlier than the Chief series. Uniform bloom time, plant habit, and height. Also known as cockscomb and crested cock's comb. Unauthorized reproduction and sale of seeds is prohibited by the breeder. According to Johnny's Selected Seeds, Reien is 90 - 115 days to maturity, annual, open pollinated. Notable features: Use for Cut Flowers and Bouquets, Ideal for Drying and Crafts.
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day). Soil: High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Occasionally Dry. Height: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.. Spread: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: Low. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Reien reaches harvest at 90 - 115 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. Expect 2-4" at peak. As an annual, harvest continues until frost ends the season.
Smooth, glossy, shiny capsule contain many seeds
Color: Black. Type: Capsule.
Edibility: The leaves and young shoots are cooked and used in soups and stews. The seeds yield edible oil.
Storage & Preservation
For fresh Reien flowers, store upright in a vase with cool water at 65-72°F away from direct sunlight; they'll last 7-10 days. Keep in a cool room rather than refrigerator for optimal color retention. For preservation: air-dry by hanging bunches upside-down in a warm, dark, well-ventilated space for 2-3 weeks to create long-lasting dried arrangements; press individual florets between paper under weight for 1-2 weeks for botanical crafts; or use silica gel burial method for 3-5 days to preserve flower shape and color intensity for display or arrangements.
History & Origin
Reien is open-pollinated, meaning seed saved from healthy plants will produce true-to-type offspring. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.
Origin: Tropical Africa
Advantages
- +Vivid red combs with dark foliage create striking visual contrast in arrangements
- +Blooms 5-7 days earlier than Chief series for faster production cycles
- +Sturdy 18-24 inch stems are ideal for fresh and dried cut flowers
- +Uniform height, bloom time, and habit simplify commercial growing and harvesting
- +Easy to grow with reliable performance across typical growing conditions
Considerations
- -Seed propagation restricted by breeder; cannot save or resell seeds independently
- -Tall stems require staking or support in windy conditions to prevent lodging
- -High humidity or poor drainage increases susceptibility to root rot issues
Companion Plants
Marigolds — French types like 'Petite Gold' especially — are the most practical neighbor here: they deter thrips and aphids that will occasionally probe celosia, and the color contrast earns real visual weight in a cut-flower bed. Sweet Alyssum fills in at ground level and draws parasitic wasps without competing for root space. Nasturtiums pull aphid pressure away as a trap crop. Give Reien a wide berth from Black Walnut; juglone toxicity can persist in soil well beyond where the canopy ends, and in our zone 7 Georgia gardens that's not a theoretical problem — it's a dead-plant problem. Sunflowers are a subtler issue: their allelopathic root exudates will actively crowd out the full-sun space celosia needs to hit its best color saturation.
Plant Together
Marigolds
Repel aphids, whiteflies, and nematodes while attracting beneficial insects
Lavender
Deters pests with strong scent and attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles, protecting nearby flowers
Sweet Alyssum
Attracts beneficial insects like lacewings and hover flies that control pests
Chives
Repel aphids and Japanese beetles while improving soil with natural sulfur compounds
Cosmos
Attract beneficial predatory insects and provide habitat for pest controllers
Catnip
Repels ants, mosquitoes, and rodents more effectively than chemical repellents
Yarrow
Improves soil health and attracts ladybugs and parasitic wasps
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone toxin that inhibits growth and can kill sensitive flowering plants
Eucalyptus
Releases allelopathic compounds that suppress growth of nearby plants
Sunflowers
Can inhibit growth of smaller flowers through allelopathy and resource competition
Troubleshooting Reien
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
Seedlings damping off at soil level — stems pinch and collapse within the first 2-3 weeks after germination
Likely Causes
- Pythium or Rhizoctonia fungi thriving in overwatered, poorly drained starting mix
- Trays kept too wet with insufficient airflow around stems
What to Do
- 1.Water from the bottom only, and let the top inch of mix dry slightly between waterings
- 2.Run a small fan on low near your seed trays to keep air moving — 30 minutes a day is enough
- 3.If it's already happening, pull the affected seedlings immediately and treat remaining ones with a dilute hydrogen peroxide drench (1 part 3% H₂O₂ to 4 parts water)
Flower heads showing gray fuzzy coating or turning mushy during humid stretches in summer
Likely Causes
- Botrytis cinerea (gray mold) — thrives when humidity stays above 85% and air stagnates between dense plantings
- Overhead irrigation wetting the blooms directly
What to Do
- 1.Space plants at least 9-12 inches apart so air can move through the canopy
- 2.Switch to drip or base watering — keep water off the crests entirely
- 3.Remove and bag any affected heads right away; Botrytis spreads fast on dead and dying tissue
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do Reien cut flowers last in a vase?▼
Can you grow Reien flowers in containers?▼
When should I plant Reien seeds?▼
Is Reien a good variety for beginning flower growers?▼
What's the difference between Reien and the Chief series cockscomb?▼
How long does it take from planting to harvest with Reien?▼
Growing Guides from Wind River Greens
Where to Buy Seeds
Sources & References
External authority sources used in compiling this guide.
- BreederJohnny's Selected Seeds
See the Methodology page for how this data is sourced, what's AI-assisted, and known limitations.