Key Features
- Distinctive Variety: Amaranthus caudatus is known for its dramatic, cascading flower clusters.
- Rich Colors: Produces ornamental blooms in shades of red, burgundy, purple, and green, depending on the selection.
- Unique Growth Habit: Tall plants develop long, rope-like flower tassels that gracefully hang from the stems.
- Garden Appeal: Excellent for flower borders, cottage gardens, cutting gardens, and ornamental displays.
- Long-Lasting Interest: Attractive flower tassels can remain decorative well into the growing season.
Growing Benefits
- Adds height, texture, and movement to sunny garden spaces.
- Creates an eye-catching focal point with cascading flower tassels.
- Useful as a fresh or dried cut flower for decorative arrangements.
- Suitable for cottage gardens, borders, containers, and cutting gardens.
- Relatively easy to grow from seed in warm growing conditions.
Seed Specifications
- Common Name: Love-Lies-Bleeding, Tassel Flower, Amaranth
- Botanical Name: Amaranthus caudatus
- Plant Type: Annual flowering plant; Colors include red, burgundy, purple, green, and related shades
- Height & Growing Conditions: Typically reaches about three to eight feet; prefers full sun and fertile, well-drained soil with regular moisture
- Germination, Spacing & Uses: Germinates in approximately one to two weeks; sow shallowly and thin seedlings to about twelve to eighteen inches apart; suitable for borders, cottage gardens, cutting gardens, containers, fresh arrangements, and dried displays
Growing Tips
- Choose a warm, sunny location with good air circulation.
- Sow seeds shallowly because they need light to germinate well.
- Keep the soil evenly moist during germination without making it waterlogged.
- Provide support or a sheltered position when growing tall plants in windy areas.
Seed Storage
Keep unused seeds in a cool, dry, dark location. Store them in an airtight, moisture-resistant container away from humidity, heat, and direct sunlight. Always ensure seeds are completely dry before long-term storage.
Unique Facts About Seeds
- Amaranthus caudatus is commonly known as Love-Lies-Bleeding because of its distinctive drooping flower tassels.
- The plant belongs to the Amaranthaceae family and is related to other amaranth species.
- Its unusual flower clusters can hang dramatically from the plant, creating a cascading ornamental effect.
- The flower tassels are often appreciated in dried arrangements because they retain their distinctive form.