Celosia plumosa is a warm-season annual that grows like a slim green stem topped with a plume of spun fire, each bloom forming a soft triangular tower packed with tiny, velvety flowers. The plant usually reaches one to two feet tall, holding its feathery spikes above tidy, lance-shaped leaves that stay a bright, steady green. Those plumes are its signature, rising in bold shades of crimson, gold, tangerine, and magenta, giving the whole plant the look of a miniature bonfire that never stops flickering. Celosia plumosa thrives in sun-drenched places and handles heat and dry spells with surprising grit, asking only for well-drained soil to keep its roots from sulking. When grown in clusters, the plants create a textured, glowing patch of color that grabs attention from across a yard, and their long-lasting blooms make them favorites for cut arrangements and dried displays. Even a single plant in a pot can feel like a small celebration, a bright signal that summer has settled in.