Heirloom

Sunday™ Gold

Celosia argentea plumosa

Photo: Herbertkikoy · Wikimedia Commons · (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Uniform, productive plants. 4-8" long, bright golden-yellow, feathery spikes on long stems. Rich color complements high-summer and autumn arrangements. Raw, uncoated seed.

Harvest

85-90d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun

☀️

Zones

10–11

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

9-18 inches

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Showing dates for Sunday™ Gold in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 flower →

Zone Map

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Sunday™ Gold · Zones 10–11

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing18-24 inches

SoilWell-drained, fertile soil

WaterRegular, keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged

SeasonWarm season annual

ColorBright golden-yellow

Size4-8"

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
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	—
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	—

Succession Planting

Sunday Gold blooms once per stem and holds — you won't get a second flush off the same plant. Staggered sowings are the only way to stretch your harvest window. Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost date, then direct-sow or transplant a second round about 3-4 weeks later. Stop sowing by late June; anything started after that won't clock enough warm days to hit the 85-90 day mark before cooler nights slow growth to a crawl.

If you're growing for cut flowers rather than just border color, the staggering matters more than you'd think. One round every 3-4 weeks from late winter through early summer will give you plumes coming in from midsummer through first frost instead of one big flush that's over in three weeks.

Complete Growing Guide

Uniform, productive plants. 4-8" long, bright golden-yellow, feathery spikes on long stems. Rich color complements high-summer and autumn arrangements. Raw, uncoated seed. According to Johnny's Selected Seeds, Sunday™ Gold is 85 - 90 days to maturity, annual, open pollinated. Notable features: Use for Cut Flowers and Bouquets, Ideal for Drying and Crafts, Attracts Beneficial Insects.

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

Sunday™ Gold reaches harvest at 85 - 90 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. Expect 4-8" 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

Sunday™ Gold celosia flowers are best stored in a cool location on the counter or in the refrigerator at 35-40°F with moderate humidity to extend vase life 1-2 weeks. For long-term preservation, hang-dry the feathery spikes in a dark, well-ventilated space for dried floral arrangements that last months. Alternatively, press individual flowers between parchment paper for botanical crafts, or freeze-dry using silica gel to maintain vibrant color. Store dried arrangements in airtight containers away from direct light.

History & Origin

Sunday™ Gold 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

+Bright golden-yellow color makes stunning high-summer and autumn floral arrangements
+Uniform plants produce consistently sized 4-8" feathery spikes on long stems
+85-90 day maturity fits well within most growing seasons
+Easy difficulty level makes it suitable for beginning gardeners
+Raw uncoated seed reduces packaging waste and storage space

Considerations

-Feathery spikes can shatter or shed if handled roughly during harvest
-Requires consistently moist soil; drought stress causes premature flowering and smaller spikes
-Long stems may need staking in windy locations to prevent lodging

Companion Plants

Marigolds, Alyssum, and Nasturtiums are the companions worth thinking about seriously here. Tagetes patula in particular deters aphids and whiteflies that can show up on celosia foliage, and both plants want identical conditions — full sun, warm soil, regular water — so there's no resource tug-of-war. Alyssum stays at 6-8 inches, well below the celosia canopy, and its small flowers draw parasitic wasps (Braconidae family) that take out soft-bodied pests before populations build. Nasturtiums work as a trap crop: aphids will pack onto them first, which keeps pressure off everything else nearby.

Black Walnut, Eucalyptus, and Fennel are the ones to skip. Black Walnut roots and decomposing hulls release juglone — a compound toxic enough to kill tomatoes, peppers, and plenty of annuals, and celosia isn't worth testing against it. Eucalyptus puts allelopathic compounds into the soil that suppress germination and root development in nearby plants. Fennel is simply bad company for almost everything; it secretes root exudates that stunt neighbors, and it has no business sharing a bed with something you're trying to bring to 85-90 days.

Plant Together

Marigolds

Repel nematodes and aphids while attracting beneficial insects

Nasturtiums

Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles, attract pollinators

Alyssum

Attracts beneficial insects like ladybugs and parasitic wasps

Petunias

Repel aphids, tomato hornworms, and other garden pests

Zinnias

Attract butterflies and beneficial insects while deterring cucumber beetles

Cosmos

Attract beneficial insects and pollinators, provide natural pest control

Lavender

Repels moths, fleas, and mosquitoes while attracting pollinators

Catnip

Repels aphids, ants, and mosquitoes more effectively than DEET

Keep Apart

Black Walnut

Produces juglone toxin that inhibits growth and can kill sensitive plants

Eucalyptus

Releases allelopathic compounds that suppress growth of nearby plants

Fennel

Inhibits growth of most garden plants through allelopathic root secretions

Troubleshooting Sunday™ Gold

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Seedlings collapse at soil level, stems pinched-looking and dark, within the first 2-3 weeks after germination

Likely Causes

Damping off (Pythium or Rhizoctonia spp.) — fungal rot triggered by overwatering and poor airflow around seedlings
Sowing too thickly, which keeps the soil surface wet and shaded

What to Do

1.Water only from below once germination starts — set trays in a shallow dish rather than misting from above
2.Thin seedlings to at least 1 inch apart as soon as the first true leaf appears
3.Run a small fan near your seed trays for 30-60 minutes a day to move air across the surface

Plumes fading from bright gold to washed-out cream or tan before the plant is fully mature, around day 60-70

Likely Causes

Insufficient direct sun — celosia needs 6+ hours of unfiltered light to hold pigment through the season
Afternoon shade from a fence, wall, or taller neighbors like Cosmos or tall Zinnias

What to Do

1.Relocate next season to a bed with full, unobstructed southern or western exposure
2.If shade is from nearby plants, cut them back or put the celosia at the front of the bed where nothing is blocking it

Leaves developing small, water-soaked spots that turn tan or gray with a darker border, mid-season

Likely Causes

Cercospora leaf spot (Cercospora celosiae) — common on celosia in warm, humid conditions with overhead irrigation
Watering late in the day and leaving foliage wet overnight

What to Do

1.Switch to drip irrigation or water at the base early in the morning so leaves dry before evening
2.Remove and bag affected leaves — don't compost them
3.Space plants the full 18-24 inches apart at transplant time to keep airflow moving through the bed

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do Sunday™ Gold celosia flowers last in a vase?▼

Fresh Sunday™ Gold celosia typically lasts 1-2 weeks in a vase when stored in cool conditions at 35-40°F. Change water every 2-3 days and remove lower foliage to prevent bacterial growth. The flowers are excellent for drying, which extends their life to several months for dried arrangements.

Is celosia easy to grow for beginners?▼

Yes, Sunday™ Gold is rated Easy and is ideal for beginners. It grows quickly with minimal maintenance in full sun, doesn't require special soil conditions, and produces abundant blooms in 85-90 days. It's very forgiving and productive, making it a reliable choice for new gardeners.

When should I plant Sunday™ Gold celosia seeds?▼

Direct sow seeds after the last frost date once soil has warmed. Celosia prefers warm soil and air temperatures. You can also start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last spring frost for transplanting outdoors. Seeds germinate quickly in warm conditions, typically within 7-14 days.

Can you grow celosia in containers?▼

Yes, Sunday™ Gold grows well in containers. Use well-draining potting soil and provide full sun (6+ hours daily). Space plants 18-24 inches apart or use one plant per large pot. Container-grown plants may need regular watering to prevent soil from drying out completely.

What are celosia flowers good for?▼

Sunday™ Gold's bright golden-yellow feathery spikes are prized for fresh flower arrangements, especially in high-summer and autumn bouquets. The long stems make them ideal for cutting gardens. They're also excellent dried flowers for crafts, wreaths, and long-lasting dried arrangements.

How much sun does Sunday™ Gold celosia need?▼

Celosia thrives in full sun, requiring at least 6+ hours of direct sunlight daily. More sun promotes bushier, more uniform plants with better flower production. While it tolerates partial shade, flowering may be reduced in lower light conditions.