I never have success with Celosias.

And for those wondering, my subsequent Google search shows that yes, celosia can/should be deadheaded. Just cut the stalk and new ones should grow.

Anonymous wrote:celosia

DING DING DING! Yes, that is it!!!! Thank you!

Anonymous wrote:The name escapes me, but most annuals will reflower if you cut off the dead flowers.

OP here. I do dead-head many annuals but I'm worried about trying it on these. Each plant just has one huge spike thing to it, so I presume I'd have to cut the whole thing off and I fear I'd be left with a stump that dies or doesn't grow another flower spike.

celosia

OP here. The shape of the salvia is closer but the petals are totally different--really they are like fine red feathers and have visible little feather wisps. Salvia petals look smooth. The plant consists of some leaves at the base and then a long, tall "poker" like spike. Most plants have just one spike, though a few did grow a couple of baby spikes.

It was certainly sold as an annual. I have red ones and there were also some goldenrod yellow ones. I got them at Merrifield and I went down the list of annuals but none of the names stood out and I googled many but didn't hit the right ones. I should just call them or drop by.

They've been going down hill for a few weeks, despite good watering. They just look old and a bit gray-tinged. Once I planted them (around Mother's day), they grew bigger and taller but didn't really add additional "flowers" except for the few with baby spikes.

The name escapes me, but most annuals will reflower if you cut off the dead flowers.

salvia? http://www.thewildlifeporch.com/media/blogs/twp/F_Salvia_Mojave.jpg

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks to y'all for your help! It's not bee balm. It looks much more like astilbe, though--only individual plants and not bushy at all. The "petals" are feathery and very velvety looking and feeling. I can take a pic tonight and post.

The reason anyway that I am trying to find out is to look online for advice, but perhaps you might have some. Even before this terrible heat, the flowers started looking like crap. I'm wondering if I should cut them and they'll grow back, or if this is it for the season.

Are you sure its an annual. Most annuals (which are really tropical plants) do not wilt in the heat as long as they are getting enough water at the root level. Astilbes BTW are very sensitive to heat and need to be kept in partial shade. Are the leaves wilting as well.

OP here. Thanks to y'all for your help! It's not bee balm. It looks much more like astilbe, though--only individual plants and not bushy at all. The "petals" are feathery and very velvety looking and feeling. I can take a pic tonight and post.

The reason anyway that I am trying to find out is to look online for advice, but perhaps you might have some. Even before this terrible heat, the flowers started looking like crap. I'm wondering if I should cut them and they'll grow back, or if this is it for the season.

Can you post a pic?

Neither bee balm nor astilbe are annuals. Last year my gardener planted some annuals that looks like astilbe, sadly I do not remember the name.

astilbe?

bee balm?

http://wiseacre-gardens.com/plants/perennial/beebalm.html

It has the shape of a fire poker flower (tubular that tapers at the top), the entire plant grows about 12", but the flower "petals" are very feathery in nature. Mine are red.