Heirloom

Sunday™ Wine Red

Celosia argentea plumosa

Photo: Maria Eklind · Wikimedia Commons · (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Harvest

85-95d

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™ Wine Red in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 flower →

Zone Map

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Sunday™ Wine Red · Zones 10–11

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

SeasonWarm season annual

ColorDeep red

Size3-5"

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

Uniform, productive plants. 3-5" long, deep red, feathery spikes on attractive, dark red stems and leaves. Plants are slightly more compact compared to others in the Sunday series. Raw, uncoated seed. According to Johnny's Selected Seeds, Sunday™ Wine Red is 85 - 95 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™ Wine Red reaches harvest at 85 - 95 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. Expect 3-5" 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 storage, keep Sunday® Wine Red flowers in a cool location away from direct sunlight. If refrigerating, store in a vase with fresh water or in a plastic bag in the crisper drawer at 35-40°F with moderate humidity; flowers typically last 7-14 days. For preservation, air-dry bundles by hanging upside-down in a warm, dark, well-ventilated space for 2-3 weeks, resulting in long-lasting dried arrangements. Alternatively, press flowers between parchment paper under weight for 1-2 weeks to create flat specimens suitable for crafts or framing. Glycerin preservation is also effective—soak stems in a 1:1 solution of glycerin and water for several days to retain color and flexibility.

History & Origin

Sunday™ Wine Red 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

+Deep wine red feathery spikes create dramatic visual impact in gardens
+Compact growth habit makes Sunday Wine Red ideal for containers
+Dark red stems and foliage provide striking color contrast throughout season
+Raw seed allows cost-effective propagation for large-scale planting projects
+Uniform plant development ensures consistent flowering and professional garden appearance

Considerations

-85-95 day maturity requires extended growing season in cooler climates
-Feathery spike structure may require staking in windy locations
-Raw uncoated seed has lower germination rates than treated alternatives

Companion Plants

Marigolds and Cosmos are the workhorses here. Marigolds (especially Tagetes patula) deter aphids and whiteflies through scent and also suppress soil nematodes — useful when you're planting into beds that grew nightshades last season. Cosmos fill vertical space without competing hard at the root zone, and their open flowers draw parasitic wasps that keep caterpillar pressure in check. Sweet Alyssum planted at the border does similar work, pulling in beneficial insects while staying low enough not to shade the celosia out.

Black Walnut, Eucalyptus, and Fennel are the ones to keep clear of. Black Walnut releases juglone through its roots and leaf litter, which will stunt or kill celosia growing nearby. Fennel is subtler — it looks benign but produces anethole and other compounds that inhibit establishment for most annuals within a foot or two. In our zone 7 Georgia garden, where these plants are already racing to establish before summer heat peaks around late June, any chemical interference at the roots is a problem you just don't need.

Plant Together

Petunias

Repel aphids, tomato hornworms, and squash bugs with natural compounds

Lobelia

Provides complementary blue color contrast and attracts pollinators

Dusty Miller

Silver foliage enhances wine red colors and provides textural contrast

Catnip

Repels mosquitoes, ants, and aphids more effectively than DEET

Cosmos

Attracts beneficial insects and provides height variation without competition

Marigolds

Repel aphids, whiteflies, and nematodes while attracting beneficial insects

Sweet Alyssum

Attracts beneficial insects like lacewings and provides ground cover

Nasturtiums

Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles, drawing pests away

Keep Apart

Black Walnut

Releases juglone toxin that inhibits growth and can kill sensitive plants

Eucalyptus

Allelopathic properties suppress growth of nearby flowering plants

Fennel

Inhibits growth of most garden plants through allelopathic compounds

Troubleshooting Sunday™ Wine Red

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

Seedlings damping off at soil level — stems pinch to a thread and topple, usually within the first 2 weeks after germination

Likely Causes

Pythium or Rhizoctonia fungal complex thriving in waterlogged seed-starting mix
Poor airflow around crowded trays kept under humidity domes too long

What to Do

1.Start seeds in a well-draining, sterile soilless mix and water from the bottom — never let trays sit in standing water more than 30 minutes
2.Pull the humidity dome as soon as you see the first sprouts and run a small fan nearby at low speed
3.If damping off appears, drench surviving seedlings with a diluted hydrogen peroxide solution (1 part 3% H2O2 to 9 parts water) to slow spread

Leaves speckled silver or bronze, with tiny moving dots visible on the undersides, most noticeable in hot, dry stretches

Likely Causes

Two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) — populations explode when temperatures stay above 90°F and humidity drops
Drought-stressed plants that haven't been irrigated consistently

What to Do

1.Blast the undersides of leaves with a firm stream of water three days in a row to knock mite populations back
2.Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil in the early morning — coverage on leaf undersides is what matters, not the tops
3.Keep plants consistently watered; water stress is the fastest way to invite a mite outbreak

Plumes rotting or turning gray-brown and fuzzy at the tips, especially after a stretch of cool, wet weather in spring

Likely Causes

Botrytis cinerea (gray mold) — moves in fast on spent or damaged flower tissue when nights stay below 60°F and humidity is high
Overcrowded planting with poor airflow between plants

What to Do

1.Remove and bag any affected flower heads immediately — Botrytis spores spread aggressively if you leave rotting tissue on the plant
2.Space plants at least 9–12 inches apart and avoid overhead watering in the evening
3.If the problem persists, a copper-based fungicide applied every 7–10 days during wet weather can slow it down

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do Sunday Wine Red flowers last after cutting?▼

Sunday Wine Red flowers typically last 7-14 days in a vase with fresh, cool water. Change the water every 2-3 days and remove lower leaves to extend vase life. For maximum longevity, display them in a cool location away from direct sunlight and ripening fruit, which release ethylene gas that shortens flower life.

Can you grow Sunday Wine Red as a beginner?▼

Yes, Sunday Wine Red is an excellent choice for beginners. It's rated as easy to grow, produces uniform, productive plants, and requires only basic care with full sun and regular watering. The heirloom variety is reliable and forgiving, making it perfect for first-time flower gardeners looking for dramatic color and texture.

Can I grow Sunday Wine Red flowers in containers?▼

Yes, Sunday Wine Red can be successfully grown in containers given its slightly compact plant habit. Use well-draining potting soil and choose a container at least 12-18 inches deep. Ensure the container receives 6+ hours of full sun daily and water regularly to keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.

When should I plant Sunday Wine Red flower seeds?▼

Sow Sunday Wine Red seeds directly outdoors after the last spring frost, or start them indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost date for earlier blooms. Seeds germinate in 7-14 days under warm conditions. In most climates, direct sowing after frost danger has passed is the simplest approach for this heat-loving annual.

What makes Sunday Wine Red different from other celosia varieties?▼

Sunday Wine Red stands out for its deep red, feathery spikes (3-5" long) combined with attractive dark red stems and foliage. Plants are slightly more compact than other varieties in the Sunday series, making them ideal for smaller spaces. The heirloom genetics ensure excellent productivity and uniform growth habits.