Amaranthus

Amaranthus is a beauty to have in the garden. Flower with names (Amaranth, Tampala, Tassel flower, Flaming fountain, Fountain plant, Joseph’s coat, Love-lies-bleeding, Molten flower, Prince’s feather) is better known as a bold bedding plant rather than as an indoor plant, but it can be grown successfully on a windowsill or in the conservatory. In the summer and early fall the long and pendant tassels appear, each one made up of tiny blooms.

This flower are famed for their colorful grains, these can be in many different colors, especially purple and gold. The shrub bears reddish stems and the leaves turn bronzy as they age. Look for this one in the outdoor plant section of the garden center.

This flower belongs to the Amaranthaceae plant family; this consists of around 2,500 different species across 150 genera. Amaranthus caudatus (Love-lies-bleeding) is the usual type. The variety A. atropurpureus has dark red flowers – A. viridis produces pale green flowers. Amaranthus tricolor is grown for its multicolored foliage; the flowers are insignificant.

Some of the common ornamental species of Amaranth that are grown in the garden are:

– Amaranthus-caudatus (Love Lies Bleeding; Tassel Flower)
– Amaranthus-hypochondriacus (Golden Amaranth; Prince of Wales Feather)
– Amaranthus-hybridus (Green Amaranth)
– Amaranthus-powellii (Powell’s Amaranth)
– Amaranthus-blitum (Wild Amaranth; Purple Amaranth; Bride Malabar)
– Amaranthus-polygonoides (Tropical Amaranth)

Three species that are still commonly grown for grain:

– Amaranthus-caudatus (Love Lies Bleeding; Tassel Flower)
– Amaranthus-cruentus (Mexican Grain Amaranth; Red Amaranth, Purple Amaranth; Prince’s Feather)
– Amaranthus-hypochondriacus (Golden Amaranth; Prince’s Feather)

Secrets of success

Temperature: Average warmth – minimum 50°F in winter.

Light: Full sun or light shade.

Water: Water freely from spring to fall – sparingly in winter.

Air humidity: Mist leaves occasionally.

Repotting: Repot in spring every 2 years.

Propagation: Amaranth plants are grown from seed. Directly sow Amaranthus seeds into your flower garden, or start indoors for transplanting later. If planting outdoors, sow Amaranthus seeds after the soil has begun to warm in the spring. Use a rooting hormone and provide bottom heat.

Care and use: Amaranthus  needs very little maintenance. Its harvested grain can be boiled or mixed into flour to make bread. Amaranth is rich in vitamins A, K, B6, and C. It also can be used as a raw or cooked leaf vegetable in a similar way as spinach.

caudatus

 tricolor

viridis

cruentus