Everything about Amaranth flower : How to Plant & care for them

Amaranth flower

Amaranth flower specifications

Scientific name : Amaranthus
Common Names : Amaranth, amaranthus, love lies bleeding, tassel flower
Order : Caryophyllales
Family : Amaranthaceae
Subfamily : Amaranthoideae
Genus : Amaranthus
Plant Type : Annual
Mature Size : 2–4 ft. tall, 1-2 ft. wide
Sun Exposure : Full sun to partial shade
Soil Type : Moist but well-drained
Bloom Time : Summer, fall, winter
Flower Color : Red
Native Area : India, Africa and Peru

The Amaranthus genus is a complicated one featuring at least 75 annual and short-lived perennial species that easily cross-breed and hybridize. Today, most gardeners are familiar with the species as annual ornamental plants and many don’t realize that amaranths are also edible plants that can be grown for their grain-like seeds and edible leaves. Culinary use was once the primary reason amaranth was grown as a staple in home cottage gardens. The use of amaranth as an ornamental plant is a relatively recent development in the plant’s history. Amaranth flower

Amaranth flower

Amaranth are characterized by large, broad leaves with prominent veining. Each plant produces a single flower at the end of the tall reddish stem. Colors are usually burgundy, red, pink, or salmon.

Amaranth Care

Amaranth grows well in any average well-drained soil, so make sure the site you choose has good drainage and air circulation. To ensure continued production, it’s a good idea to stagger planting every two to three weeks, beginning a week or two after the last frost date in your region.

While amaranth plants are tall, they aren’t necessarily wide or bushy, so you can plant them 10 to 18 inches apart. The closer you plant them, the better they look once fully grown. At the same time, they need enough space to provide good air circulation. Amaranth flower

Light

Amaranth does best in full sun in the northern part of its range, but in warm southern climates, it can benefit from some shade in the afternoon. Generally, plant amaranth in a location where it will receive at least six hours of sunlight each day.

Soil

Amaranth grows well in average soils and will even grow adequately in poor soils. Only dense clay mixtures are likely to be completely unsuitable for amaranth, though very rich soils might hinder flowering and seed production.

Water

Amaranth plants have average needs for water, requiring no more than one inch per week. Take care not to overwater them or you run the risk of root rot or fungal diseases.

Temperature and Humidity

Unlike other leafy green vegetables, amaranth is fairly happy in the heat. Many species are native to the southern U.S. and Mexico, so you can expect them to thrive even when the temperatures are unusually warm.

Fertilizer

Amaranth doesn’t require any supplemental feeding. Excessive nitrogen (often found in fertilizers) can cause the plants to become leggy and less suitable for harvesting.

Species

List of Amaranthus species include :

Amaranthus acanthochiton – greenstripe	Amaranthus acutilobus – a synonym of Amaranthus viridis
Amaranthus albus – white pigweed, tumble pigweed	Amaranthus blitoides – mat amaranth, prostrate amaranth, prostrate pigweed
Amaranthus arenicola – sandhill amaranth	Amaranthus californicus – California amaranth, California pigweed
Amaranthus australis – southern amaranth	Amaranthus cannabinus – tidal-marsh amaranth
Amaranthus bigelovii – Bigelow’s amaranth	Amaranthus caudatus – love-lies-bleeding, pendant amaranth, tassel flower, quilete
Amaranthus anderssonii	Amaranthus crassipes – spreading amaranth
Amaranthus blitum – purple amaranth	Amaranthus cruentus – purple amaranth, red amaranth, Mexican grain amaranth
Amaranthus brownii – Brown’s amaranth	Amaranthus dubius – spleen amaranth, khada sag
Amaranthus chihuahuensis – Chihuahuan amaranth	Amaranthus fimbriatus – fringed amaranth, fringed pigweed
Amaranthus crispus – crispleaf amaranth	Amaranthus hybridus – smooth amaranth, smooth pigweed, red amaranth
Amaranthus deflexus – large-fruit amaranth	Amaranthus hypochondriacus – Prince-of-Wales feather, prince’s feather
Amaranthus floridanus – Florida amaranth	Amaranthus interruptus – Australian amaranth
Amaranthus furcatus	Amaranthus obcordatus – Trans-Pecos amaranth
Amaranthus graecizans	Amaranthus palmeri – Palmer’s amaranth, Palmer pigweed, careless weed
Amaranthus grandiflorus	Amaranthus polygonoides – tropical amaranth
Amaranthus greggii – Gregg’s amaranth	Amaranthus powellii – green amaranth, Powell amaranth, Powell pigweed
Amaranthus minimus	Amaranthus retroflexus – red-root amaranth, redroot pigweed, common amaranth
Amaranthus mitchellii	Amaranthus scleranthoides – variously Amaranthus sclerantoides
Amaranthus muricatus – African amaranth	Amaranthus spinosus – spiny amaranth, prickly amaranth, thorny amaranth
Amaranthus pringlei – Pringle’s amaranth	Amaranthus thunbergii – Thunberg’s amaranth
Amaranthus pumilus – seaside amaranth	Amaranthus torreyi – Torrey’s amaranth
Amaranthus quitensis – Mucronate Amaranth	Amaranthus tuberculatus – rough-fruit amaranth, tall waterhemp
Amaranthus saradhiana	Amaranthus viridis – slender amaranth, green amaranth
Amaranthus scleropoides – bone-bract amaranth	Amaranthus watsonii – Watson’s amaranth
Amaranthus standleyanus	Amaranthus wrightii – Wright’s amaranth
Amaranthus tricolor – Joseph’s-coat

Types of Amaranth

Varieties of amaranth can range from giants topping eight feet tall, to smaller one- to two-foot plants better suited for leaf harvest. You should cultivate larger plants specifically grown for their seeds if you want to harvest the amaranth grain. Amaranth flower

Some popular varieties include :

Red-leaf amaranth ( Amaranthus tricolor ) : This variety has especially nutritious foliage that tastes like slightly tangy spinach. ‘Molten Fire’ and ‘Joseph’s Coat’ are popular cultivars of this species.
‘ Burgundy ’ (A. hypochondriacus ) : Stunning purple leaves, red flowers, and white seeds adorn this variety.
‘ Hopi Red Dye ’ ( A. cruentus ) : An heirloom species, it produces excellent protein-rich black seeds.

Iran dried Amaranth flower

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dried Amaranth flower

Propagating Amaranth flower

Thanks to their plentiful seeds, amaranth plants will readily self-seed in the garden. As they sprout in spring, thin the volunteer seedlings to about 10 to 18 inches apart, or carefully dig them up and transplant them elsewhere. It’s also possible to collect seeds in the fall and replant them the following spring. Be aware, though, that if the original plants were hybrids, the volunteer seedlings might not be the same plant as the parent plant. Amaranth flower

How to Grow Amaranth From Seed

When sowing amaranth outdoors, space seeds about four inches apart after soil has warmed in late spring, barely covering them with soil. Germination generally takes 7 to 14 days. As they sprout, thin the plants 10 to 18 inches apart.

If starting seeds indoors, you can use a general seed-starting mix and sow seeds roughly 6-8 weeks before your average last frost date. Cover seeds lightly and keep them consistently moist at about 60 degrees Fahrenheit. After seeds sprout, place the plants under bright light to continue growing until they’re ready to make the move outside.

Make sure to harden off the seedlings to prepare them for outdoor conditions before transplanting them into the garden. The average outdoor temperature needs to reach about 55 degrees Fahrenheit before you can successfully plant the seedlings outdoors. Amaranth flower

Overwintering

This plant will die in the winter but because it self-seeds quite readily, you can count on new plants popping up in the spring.

Common Pests

Amaranth can fall prey to many of the same pests and diseases that affect other vegetables.2 Aphids and weevils are common. Insecticidal soaps are a good remedy for the former, and floating row covers will protect the plants from the latter.

Avoid using commercial pesticides with a “wait to pick” or any other type of warning regarding consumption. Many of these types of pesticides are broad-spectrum, designed to eliminate multiple insects, and might contain ingredients that aren’t meant to be ingested by humans. Amaranth flower

Common Problems with Amaranth

Root rot can be a problem in wet, dense soil or in periods where rainfalls are frequent and copious.3 Once root rot occurs, the plant must be removed. Your best defense against root rot is maintaining well-drained soil and not overwatering the plant.

FAQ

What parts of amaranth can I use ?

Edible amaranth is often grown for the plentiful tiny seeds that hang in tassels from the top of the plant after the attractive red flowers fade. The bulk seed is used as a grain in porridges or added as a thickener to soups and stews. You can also use the leaves of amaranth as a leafy vegetable; the taste is similar to spinach and it can be used in the same way as many other leafy vegetables, especially in mixed-green salads. Amaranth flower

How do I harvest amaranth ?

To harvest amaranth grains, let the plant flower. Keep an eye on the flowers as they bloom and begin to die back. Before they turn brown, cut the flowers off and place them in bags where they will dry. Shake the bag once they are dry or knock the seeds loose over a cloth. Rinse away the dried seed chaff and enjoy your grain harvest. Amaranth is especially good in a porridge that also contains other grains like millet and quinoa.

How do I know I have the right variety of amaranth?

If consumption is the goal, choose annual amaranth varieties marketed as edibles. Nearly all amaranths are edible, including ‘love-lies-bleeding’ and even the common roadside weedy forms. But those sold as edible varieties are selected for their good seed production and especially tasty leaves. Amaranth flower

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Everything about Amaranth flower : How to Plant & care for them

Published by abbasi on March 30, 2023March 30, 2023

Amaranth flower specifications