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Jesse Saylor
Amaranthaceae
Amaranthus tricolor 'Aurora'
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 and in the leaf axils in summer. Small capsules containing a single brown or black seed follow the flowers. Plants sometimes self-sow.
Joseph's coat performs best in sun and well-drained soil. It is best sown in place after the soil warms, 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. Its jaunty leaves lend a bright tropical look to containers and borders. They also make a colorful garnish for salads.
12 - 5
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
18"-24" / 45.7cm - 61.0cm
12"-18" / 30.5cm - 45.7cm
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
Southern Asia
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Well Drained
Loam, Sand
Fast
Average Water
Upright/Erect
Summer, Fall
Insignificant
Green
Tan, Black
Yellow, Green, Ivory
No
Single
Yes
Bold
Matte
Bedding Plant, Container, Cutflower, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Tropical
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