Amaranthus are annuals or short-lived perennials, grown for their dense panicles of tiny flowers or their colorful foliage. Grow in a sunny position in fertile, well-drained soil (neutral to acidic). Will tolerate partial shade and will grow adequately in poor soils. Dense clay soils are unsuitable for Amaranths. Commonly known as Love-lies-bleeding, Amaranth, Tassel flower, Pigweeds, Prince’s feather, Chinese spinach, Tampala. Some species are cultivated as leaf vegetables and some as ornamental plants. The densely packed flowers grow in summer or autumn with a range of colors from maroon to crimson and can grow up to 3 to 8 feet (1 to 2.5m). The stems are often reddish in color and a single plant can produce hundreds or thousands of seeds, borne singly in dry capsule fruits.
USES: Cottage gardens, Vegetable gardens, Containers, Beds, Cut Flowers, Dried flowers, Borders
TOLERATES: Heat, Drought, Poor Soils, Humidity, Salt
Botanical Name: Amaranthus cruentus ‘Hot Biscuits’
Common Name: Purple Amaranth, Red Amaranth, Prince’s Feather
Synonym: Amaranthus paniculatus
Type: Coarsely hairy, erect Annual
Flower Color: Copper/Bronze plumes up to 2 ft. (60cm) long followed by red-brown, purple, sometimes yellow seed heads.
Flowering Time: June to October
Plant Height: 4 ft. (121cm)
Plant Width: 18 in. (45cm)
Light Requirements: Full Sun
Water Requirements: Average / Moist
Soil Requirements: Well drained, moderately fertile, humus rich soil
AHS Heat Zone: 12-1
Misc: FS-Q Fleuroselect Quality Mark
Sowing Instructions (Cliff Notes Version): Under glass grow in a soil based potting mix at 68°F (20°C) in midspring. Thin to 24 in. (60cm) apart. Water freely during dry periods in summer and provide high humidity to prolong flowering.
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