Let’s take a look at the one-of-a-kind features of the Crested Flower Tree. This small bush usually stands around 40-70 centimeters tall and is known for its stunning flowers that resemble a rooster’s comb. Not only does it come in the typical green, but there are also varieties with leaves in shades of red and copper. As the flowers mature, they grow to be 5-12 cm long and have a shape that resembles a lance or oval.
The crested flower tree has a diverse range of colors, including pink, orange, purple, and red. Some of these flowers grow in clusters to form a ball shape, while others grow singularly on each branch. Even though the flowers bloom throughout the year, they reach their peak during late winter and early spring. These bright-colored flowers are perfect for adding some color and brightness to any room. The fruit of the crested flower tree is round and ovoid, containing 8-10 shiny black seeds. People often grow this tree for its aesthetic value. To ensure optimal growth, it’s best to cultivate the crested flower tree in a hot, humid, and bright environment. It’s also crucial to avoid exposing the tree to cold temperatures and stagnant water.
Organizing the Crested Blossoms
Crested flowers come in a variety of hues such as white, yellow, and red, with red phoenix tail crests being another common type. These plants, also known as cockatoo plants, are typically found in the wild.
In Vietnam, you’ll find that white crested blossoms and red crested flowers are widely seen.
Celosia argentea is a stunning flowering plant that belongs to the amaranth family. It is a popular garden annual known for its delicate appearance, and it blooms best during the spring and early summer seasons. The plant reproduces from seeds, with a single ounce of the plant containing up to 43,000 tiny seeds. Interestingly, both the leaves and blossoms of Celosia argentea are edible, and it is even cultivated as a vegetable crop in certain regions of Africa and Southeast Asia.
The plant known as the white crest is a type of perennial grass that boasts a straight and smooth stem. It features several branches and generally stands between 0.3 and 2 meters tall, although it’s rare for it to exceed a height of 1 meter. The leaves of the white crest plant grow in an alternating pattern and are lanceolate in shape. They typically measure between 8 and 10 centimeters in length and 2 to 4 centimeters in width. These leaves are pointed at both the base and the tip and are entirely whole.
On the other hand, the red crested cockatoo, also known as the red cockroach, flowered millet, first millet, and red crested cockatoo, scientifically belongs to the Amaranthaceae family with the name Celosia cristata L. It’s a perennial grass that has a firm stem with smooth branches. Its ovate leaves feature a pointy end and grow on a peduncle. The plant bears red, yellow, or white flowers that have very short stalks and end in wrinkled, flaring jars. The fruit is either globose or ovoid in shape and contains around 8-10 lustrous black seeds. Many people plant this tree for aesthetic purposes.
The usage of cockroach trees is quite common in gardens and parks, owing to their appealing look and low maintenance requirements. They are also known as decorative flowers and are widely popular among the masses. People grow them in pots throughout the year and use them as a part of Tet decoration. As for their consumption, they are not meant for eating.
Crested cockles, a well-known vegetable crop in Mexico, have multiple uses beyond just being consumed as a food item. The seeds of these plants are also used as a breakfast cereal and when mixed with sugar solution, they create a common dish that is widely consumed in Mexican cuisine. The chicken crested seeds are used to make Sattoo, a popular breakfast cereal in Nepal. In Peru and Ecuador, Chicha beer, a fermented beverage, is made using crested seeds. Apart from being a culinary ingredient, the plant’s seeds and blooms are also utilized for their hemostatic and antidysentery properties in medicinal practices.
According to the beliefs of the natives in Ecuador, combining boiled seeds with rum can have purifying effects on blood and regulate menstrual cycles. The Cockroach Tree, while lacking aristocratic beauty, represents selflessness and nobility of heart, making it a symbol of prosperity, harmony, and good fortune in Feng Shui practices. Families traditionally purchase red crested flowers between New Year and spring to pray for a fresh start and harmony.
To grow a Cockroach Tree, plant it at any time of the year, but aim to harvest it in winter or spring for milder temperatures. Choose young trees that are pest-free, scar-free, and have sturdy foliage. Soil pH should be around 6-6.5, and they thrive in loose, porous, nutrient-rich soils. Follow the formula of mixing sand, manure, husk ash, and coir at a ratio of 2:1:1:0.5 to prepare soil. Each container should hold about 700 grams of the mixture, and the sapling should be planted in a shallow hole covered with earth.
