Read about how to grow and care about Amaranthus with eye-catching, cascading flowers.
Amaranthus is a showy and exotic plant, ideal for beds and borders. Amaranthus are the best accent plants, especially in dried flower arrangements. The long , rope-like Amaranthus flowers cascade to the ground from tall, erect branching stems. Amaranthus flowers are breathtaking tassels of the darkest red or green. They’re arguably the most enigmatic flowering plant in the world.
Common names: Amaranth
Indian names: Chaulai (Hindi), Dhantin Soppu/ Harive (Kannada), Molla Keerai (Tamil)
Botanical Name: Amaranthus spinosus L.
Varieties: Red Garnet, Early Splendor, Elephant Head, Green Tails, Hot Biscuits, Love Lies Bleeding, Opopeo, Pygmy Torch.
Design Ideas: Place amaranth in the back of the border, alone in a mass planting or alongside other tall annual plants. Amaranth plants will dwarf smaller bedding plants like marigolds or vinca, but it makes a dramatic statement as a companion to sunflowers, cleome, zinnias, or nicotiana.
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Plant Features:
Life-Cycle: Annual
Height: 4 to 8 feet
Width/Spread: 6 to 7 feet
Flowering season: Flowers are long lasting, and will bloom from April to September.
Flower: Amaranths come in a variety of colors, including shades of pink, lavender, and white. Most common flower varieties grow 1′-2′ tall. Some bush varieties will grow up to 4′-6′. Their bright, long-lasting flowers will attract butterflies.
Foliage: Amaranthus leaves are oval, 2-4 inches long, starting out green or dark red and changing to bright yellow, orange or florescent pink at the top.
Planting/Growing Details:
Sunlight: full sun- around 6-8 hours of direct exposure to sunlight.
Water: regularly- whenever top-soil turns dry. Keep the soil moist but not soggy, to avoid rot and fungal diseases due to over-watering.
Sowing season: It is best to plant Amaranth in April and May when the perils of winter has been banished for another year.
Sowing method: Sow seeds early in the season and cover lightly with soil. Space the seeds or seedlings 10-12″ apart. They will tolerate a little crowding, and look good in clumps or groups.
Care:
Amaranth plants are drought tolerant and don’t like excessive irrigation. They don’t require any fertilization, and in fact too much nitrogen will cause the plant to produce more leaves than flowers. Tall varieties may need staking, especially late in the season when the pendulous flower heads are fully developed. The plants self-sow freely for amaranth flowers every year.
Pests
Amaranth are resistant to insects and disease. Mildew problems may occur in warm, humid weather. If insect or disease problems occur, treat early with organic pesticides like Neem oil.
Propagation
Amaranths are propagated from seed and can be started indoors for transplanting or direct seeded. Transplants can be started approximately 6 to 8 weeks before the spring arrives, but seeds should not be sown outdoors until all danger of frost has passed. Seeds should be sown to a depth of 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) in rows spaced 10-12” apart.
Edited by Farhana Afreen.
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