(Love-Lies-Bleeding)

Though grown in American gardens primarily for its curious tail-like clusters of colorful flowers, this large annual has long been a staple grain in the northern Andes, where it originated. Once more popular than corn, amaranth grain and greens fed the Incas for thousands of years, and are still a vital crop for peoples of the Andes. Two other species of amaranth are important grain (and ornamental) plants: Amaranthus cruentus and Amaranthus hypochondriacus.

This fast-growing,...

(Mexican Grain Amaranthus, Prince's Feather, Purple Amaranthus)

Nothing beats this tough, heat-loving annual for big, bold summer bedding displays. This Central American native has been grown since ancient times for its grain and greens, as have two other amaranths: Amaranthus hypochondriacus and A. caudatus. Purple amaranth was central to the Aztec culture, playing an important role in many of its religious rituals. Most contemporary gardeners cultivate it purely for its showy flower spikes, though it is increasingly grown...

(Prince's Feather, Prince-of-Wales-Feather)

This large, colorful annual is probably a naturally occurring hybrid originating in Central Amercica. It has been grown since ancient times for its grain and greens, as have two other amaranths: Amaranthus cruentus and A. caudatus. This amaranth was widely cultivated and revered by the Aztecs, playing a central role in their diet and in many of their religious rituals. Most contemporary gardeners cultivate it purely for its showy flower spikes, although it is increasingly...

(Joseph's Coat)

Grown in flower gardens for its dazzling plumage, this large annual is an important leaf vegetable in tropical Asia, where it is native.

This fast-growing, heat-loving plant bears large, elliptic or oval leaves that are often brilliantly hued when young, forming colorful ruffs atop tall, erect stems. The new leaves may be yellow, red, purple, bronze, ivory, or combinations thereof. The leaves gradually age to medium or dark green. In tropical Asia, where this plant is grown for the flavor rather...

Creamy yellow new leaves form showy ruffs atop the relatively compact stems of this cultivar of Joseph's coat. A large annual grown in flower gardens for its brilliant plumage, Joseph's coat originated in tropical Asia, where it is widely cultivated as a leaf vegetable.

This fast-growing, heat-loving plant bears large, elliptic or oval leaves on erect stems. The leaves are creamy yellow when young, aging to mint green. Insignificant clusters of green or reddish flowers appear at the stem tips...

Clusters of brilliant rose-pink new leaves crown the tall stems of this cultivar of Joseph's coat. A large annual grown in flower gardens for its colorful plumage, Joseph's coat originated in tropical Asia, where it is widely cultivated as a leaf vegetable.

This fast-growing, heat-loving plant bears large, elliptic or oval leaves on erect stems. The brightly hued new leaves fade gradually to deep maroon. This relatively early cultivar is spectacular from early summer to frost. Insignificant...

Showy clusters of crimson, gold-suffused leaves crown the tall stems of this cultivar of Joseph's coat. A large annual grown in flower gardens for its colorful plumage, Joseph's coat originated in tropical Asia, where it is widely cultivated as a leaf vegetable.

This fast-growing, heat-loving plant bears large, elliptic or oval leaves on erect stems. The brilliant orange-red new leaves are brushed and blotched with golden yellow. The leaves age to rich green with deep maroon markings. Insignificant...

(Joseph's Coat)

Clusters of scarlet new leaves with yellow and green tips crown the tall stems of this cultivar of Joseph's coat. A large annual grown in flower gardens for its colorful plumage, Joseph's coat originated in tropical Asia, where it is widely cultivated as a leaf vegetable.

This fast-growing, heat-loving plant bears large, elliptic or oval leaves on erect stems. The brightly hued new leaves fade gradually to medium green with deep maroon markngs. This cultivar is spectacular from summer to frost....

(Flaming Fountain, Joseph's Coat, Summer Poinsettia)

Clusters of scarlet new leaves with yellow and green tips crown the tall stems of this cultivar of Joseph's coat. A large annual grown in flower gardens for its colorful plumage, Joseph's coat originated in tropical Asia, where it is widely cultivated as a leaf vegetable.

This fast-growing, heat-loving plant bears large, elliptic or oval leaves on erect stems. The brightly hued new leaves fade gradually to medium green with deep maroon markngs. This cultivar is spectacular from summer to frost....

(Serviceberry)