Description
Amaranthus –
There are about 60 species of erect spreading or prostrate annuals or short-lived perennials, used as houseplants, in this genus. Grown as ornamentals, leaf vegetables, and grain crops but some are regarded as a weed. Found in wastelands and in temperature and tropical regions worldwide. They have alternate often-colorful leaves. They bear large upright or pendent catkin, drooping tassel like cymes of numerous densely packed small red or green flowers from early summer to early autumn followed by colored seed heads.
Indoors grow in soil based potting mix in full light, water freely throughout summer and provide high humidity. Where able to grow outside, grow in a sunny dry position and protect from strong winds, in fertile well drained, manure or humus rich site. Prune when young to thicken growth.
Prone to snails, caterpillars, aphids as well as white rust, brown rust, Cercospora leaf spot and phyllasticta leaf spot, root rot, aster yellow and virus disease.
Amaranthus caudatus – Love-lies-bleeding – Tassel Flower – This bushy erect annual or short-lived perennial grows 3-5’ feet tall and 18-30” inches wide and derives from Africa, India, and Peru. On red, purple, or green stems it carries dull green 6” long leaves but some cultivars have red or purple-green leaves. It bears Tassel like pendent terminal and axillary’s panicles 18-24” long of crimson-purple flowers and is borne freely from summer to early autumn.
Zones 9-11
