Celosia 'Toreador Red'

Trial: Annual

Years Trialed: 2002

Good Qualities

A very fine "look at me" red color (5); Uniform height and broad spread to plants, many stems, very nice; Large combs; Head shape - a nice even sine wave type 'comb' as head; Very well received by wholesale and retail florists - I dried some and it turned out very well - I think it would make a very good dried flower; Looks good fresh and dried - Nice size of blooms, about fist-size with laterals being smaller, holds well, for a long time, both in the field and in the vase; Large, full, round heads.

Problems

Too short (4); Thick stems (2); Lack of uniformity, could have been weather or possible shading of the row by adjacent (taller) plants.

Comments

Editor note: See the Postharvest Report in this issue for vase life and handling information. Similar to 'Bombays' (2); Strips easily, strong stem; Similar to many other cultivars - Nice, but 'Temple Bells', Cramer's cultivars, and other have more realistic stems; I always sell out on Celosia cristatas, if not fresh, then dry; Wished I had more of this one, will probably try removing center to encourage move and longer laterals in the future.


Trial Data

Celosia 'Toreador Red'
Yield (stems/plant) Stem Length (inches) Market Appreciation Rating¹ Repeat Again Rating¹ Ease of Cultivation Rating¹ Average Spacing (in2)
Wholesale Retail Consumer
Average 4.2 17.6 4.0 4.2 3.8 3.3 3.8 61
Range of Responses 1-15 5-42 4 4-5 3-5 2-5 3-5 18-144


¹1 to 5 scale, with 5 being the best. Market ratings are based on sales to wholesalers, retailers, or final consumers direct.


Supplier

Fred C. Gloeckner 600 Mamaroneck Ave. Harrison, NY 10528-1613