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Gerald L. Klingaman
Amaranthaceae
AMARANTHUS cruentus
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 as a grain and food crop in China, India, the United States, and other areas.
This fast-growing plant bears purple-red or green, oval to broadly lance-shaped leaves on tall upright stems. Young leaves can be prepared and eaten like spinach. Long, deep red to greenish-red spikes containing thousands of tiny flowers arch from the stem tips and leaf axils in summer and fall. They work wonderfully in fresh or dried flower arrangements. Plants are monoecious, with both male and female flowers. Female flowers produce round poppy-sized seeds, as many as 100,000 per plant. The ivory, white, or mahogany seeds are rich in proteins and essential amino acids. Fallen seed germinates in spring, making the purchase of additional seed unnecessary.
Amaranths like it hot and perform best in full sun and average to poor, well-drained soil. A single plant will produce lots of volunteer seedlings. Just weed out the ones you don’t want. This ornamental is best sown in place in warm soil, but can also be started earlier in a warm greenhouse. Mature plants are drought tolerant but grow and flower better if watered during dry spells. This annual thrives in subtropical and tropical regions.
The amaranth seeds should be harvested when they fall easily from the dried flower heads. Use a sifter to separate the seed from the chaff. Store the seed in sealed containers in a cool dry place.
Amarnathus cruentus has become naturalized in subtropical and tropical regions across the world and is considered invasive in some locations.
12 - 1
H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Annual
Full Sun, Partial Sun
2'-6' / 0.6m - 1.8m
2'-3' / 0.6m - 0.9m
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall, Late Fall
Central America
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Well Drained
Loam, Sand
Drought
Fast
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
Upright/Erect
Spring, Summer, Fall
Showy
Purple, Yellow Green, Dark Red
White, Red, Brown, Ivory
Red, Green, Purple, Light Green
Red, Green, Purple, Light Green, Burgundy
No
Single
Yes
Coarse
Matte
Bedding Plant, Cutflower, Dried Flower/Everlasting, Edible, Feature Plant, Herb / Vegetable, Mixed Border, Tropical
Sometimes
Birds
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