Key Features
- Striking Variety: Amaranthus ‘Illumination’ is known for its dramatic, changing foliage colors.
- Vibrant Colors: Young foliage develops warm red, orange, bronze, yellow, and green tones as the plant matures.
- Tall Garden Presence: Produces upright, bushy growth that creates a bold focal point in sunny garden beds.
- Ornamental Appeal: Excellent for borders, flower beds, cottage gardens, and decorative containers.
- Long-Lasting Interest: Colorful foliage and pendant flower structures provide seasonal ornamental appeal.
Growing Benefits
- Adds bold, warm-toned color to summer garden displays.
- Creates an attractive vertical accent among shorter flowering plants.
- Works well in mixed borders and ornamental garden designs.
- Can be grown for fresh arrangements and dried floral displays.
- Provides distinctive foliage interest even when other plants are between blooms.
Seed Specifications
- Common Name: Amaranthus Illumination, Joseph’s Coat
- Botanical Name: Amaranthus tricolor ‘Illumination’
- Plant Type: Annual ornamental plant
- Colors: Green, yellow, orange, red, bronze, and burgundy foliage; reddish flower structures
- Height: Approximately four to six feet
- Sunlight: Full sun
- Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil
- Water: Moderate and consistent moisture
- Germination Time: Approximately seven to fourteen days
- Sowing Depth: Surface sow or cover very lightly with soil
- Spacing: Approximately twelve to eighteen inches apart
- Growing Zones: Generally grown as an annual; suitable for warm-season cultivation across a broad range of climates
- Flowering/Maturity: Flowers and colorful foliage develop during the warm growing season
- Uses: Flower beds, borders, containers, cottage gardens, cut arrangements, and dried displays
Growing Tips
- Sow seeds after the threat of frost has passed and the soil has warmed.
- Press seeds gently onto moist soil and cover only very lightly.
- Choose a sunny location to encourage strong growth and vivid foliage coloration.
- Thin crowded seedlings early to provide adequate room for healthy development.
Seed Storage
Keep unused seeds in their original packet or an airtight container. Store them in a cool, dry, dark location away from moisture, heat, and direct sunlight. Make sure seeds remain completely dry during storage.
Unique Facts About Seeds
- Amaranthus ‘Illumination’ is prized primarily for its colorful ornamental foliage rather than conventional showy petals.
- Its foliage can change dramatically in color as the plant develops, creating a multicolored garden effect.
- Amaranth plants belong to the Amaranthaceae family.
- Amaranthus has a long history as a cultivated plant, with different species valued for ornamental, culinary, and cultural uses.