Hi there. This very question came up in the Vegetable forum, so I thought I'd share the link with you while you're waiting for responses. Maureen

Here is a link that might be useful: Vegetable Forum GW

BTG, that is so precious.

I would suggest collecting the seeds from this generation, grow some yourself, then give some to close relatives and neighbors, so that the plants perpetuate.

My mother used to grow a tall celosia with a red cock's comb. It is an interesting plant and reseeds nicely.

Well to Answer your question
last year I germinated celosia
a red cockscomb that was from
my great grandfathers garden.
The seeds were collected by my
mother as a little girl.
I had about a 70% germination
rate and have saved seeds from the
plants .I grow them this year as well.
I am guessing the seeds were at least
80 years old or older.
Blueangel

Wow! What a nice legacy. I often think of old roses and daffodils as ways for a gardener to live on, but I hadn't thought of seeds.

Blueangel, getting plants from seed that old is something else. If you can, post a picture. Here's a picture update of some of my Celosia. They sure are outshining some of the present day Celosia I have planted.
BTG
{{gwi:15963}}

I love the cock'scomb. You should get lots more seed when he grows up.

Your story about the long ago seeds is interesting, I have been saving seeds that was my dear friends, she is gone now and I keep planting them in her memory. I like the large
crested ones. I bought some small plants , eight inch tall last year,but they didnt survive. I like the large flowers much better. I have grown them for several years. The seeds are easy to save. They come up volunteer each year.

{{gwi:15964}}

Hi Caroline,
Nice picture. Yes, I think I like the convoluted heads better than the plume type. They have that "other-worldly" appearance about them.
BTG