How to Grow Amaranths: The Compete Amaranth Flower Guide (2024)

How to Grow Amaranths: The Compete Amaranth Flower Guide (1)

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Botanical Name

Amaranthus spp.

Plant Type

Flower

Sun Exposure

Full Sun

Part Sun

Soil pH

Neutral

Neutral to Slightly Alkaline

Slightly Acidic to Neutral

Bloom Time

Summer

Flower Color

Varies

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Planting, Growing, and Caring for Amaranths

Andy Wilcox

How to Grow Amaranths: The Compete Amaranth Flower Guide (2)

Amaranth is a native flower that brings color and drama to the garden, as well as an ancient grain which is highlight nutritious! A warm-season plant, amaranth is planted after final spring frosts. Learn how to plant, grow, and care foramaranth.

AboutAmaranth

Amaranth plants are members of the genus Amaranthus, of which there are about 75 species. Amaranths are often grown for ornamental purposes, and some varieties make stunning additions to cut flower arrangements or fall wreaths. Amaranth is also grown for its salad green–like tasty leaves and, more importantly, for its seeds, harvested as a nutritiousgrain.

In the garden or landscape, varieties usually grow 2- to 4-foot high. This flowering plant is often a bright magenta color but also comes in golden-bronze tones, adding eye-catching color and texture in beds, borders, and cottage gardens. It also makes an excellent cutting flower. Plus, the songbirds love their seeds in theautumn.

How to Grow Amaranths: The Compete Amaranth Flower Guide (3)

As a grain, this New World native has a long history in Indigenous agriculture of South America and has been cultivated as a food for thousands of years by civilizations around the globe. Both the tiny seeds and the young leaves are edible and highly nutritious. Whole amaranth grains can yield 12 to 14% protein. They are gluten-free and make an excellent source of whole grains for people avoidinggluten.

Note: Several amaranth varieties are considered noxious weeds by farmers, particularly A. palmeri also known Palmer amaranth. A. palmeri has developed resistance to herbicides and has become a significant agricultural weed. Amaranthusretroflexus (redroot pigweed) is another common weedspecies.

The young leaves can be treated as cooking greens. Nutty and flavorful, the seeds are ground into flour, used as whole grains in snacks, or cooked like quinoa. They can be stewed into porridge and even popped like popcorn! Check this page from Iowa State University for more reading on how amaranth grain is used.

The most common seedhead and leaf species grown by gardeners and homesteaders are A. hypochondriacus, A. caudatus, and A. cruentus.

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Planting

Amaranth is a warm-season plant which likes full sun, at least 6 hours per day. It will survive in partial sun but may not grow as large or yield as highly. Loose, fertile, and well-drained soil is ideal, but amaranth will grow in less-than-perfect conditions. It is not picky about pH, and will tolerate dry conditions once established. Amaranth will try to grow for you no matter what conditions you giveit.

How to Grow Amaranths: The Compete Amaranth Flower Guide (4)

When to PlantAmaranth

Amaranth can be direct-seeded or transplanted from starts. It is not frost tolerant, so wait until the last frost has passed, and the soil has warmed a bit. If starting seeds indoors, begin sowing about 6 to 8 weeks before the lastfrost.

Don’t forget to harden seedlings off (slowly adapting them to the outdoors) before transplanting them into thegarden.

How to PlantAmaranth

To direct-seedamaranth:
  • Prepare the bed and sow sparingly—the plants get quitelarge.
  • Barely cover the seeds with a light brushing ofsoil.
  • Running your hands lightly over the seeds is likely enough to cover many ofthem.
  • Thin to about one every 12 inches once a couple of sets of true leaves areout.
To start amaranthindoors:
  • Sow them in soil blocks or prepared trays of well-moistened seed startingmix.
  • Plant the seeds about 1/8 inchdeep.
  • If planting in cell trays, drop two seeds per cell and thin to one per cell if necessary once they have germinated. Snip the extras; don’t pull themout.
  • Keep them lightly moist but not soggy, and provide plenty of light once theysprout.
  • Harden off and plant outside once the last frost has passed, about when you transplant tomatoes orpeppers.

Growing

Amaranth grows slowly for the first month and can easily be outcompeted by weeds (including the wild, noxious amaranths). After the plants have 2 to 3 sets of true leaves and are 8 to 10 inches tall, they grow rapidly and will close the canopy, shading out the otherweeds.

They are not heavy feeders like corn but will appreciate some compost worked into the soil before planting. Mulching can help with soil moisture and weed pressure when the plants areyounger.

Once established, they are somewhat drought tolerant but will benefit from watering in the dry, hot parts of summer.

Types

How to Grow Amaranths: The Compete Amaranth Flower Guide (5)
Ornamentals
  • ‘Coral Fountain’ (A. caudatus) is a flowing, cascading ornamental variety with lovely coral-coloredblooms.
  • ‘Hot Biscuits’ (A. cruentus) is the current rage of the flower farming world. Loads of large blooms are perfect for autumn arrangements; it is a prolificperformer.
  • ‘Love-lies-bleeding’ (A. caudatus) is another gorgeous flowing and cascading variety with blooms the color of a fruity redwine.
Grain andLeaf
  • ‘Golden Giant’ (A. hypochondriacus) is a large, heavy seed producer, with some growers reporting yields of up to one pound per plant. Beautiful golden grain and tasty young leaves. If you are looking for grain, this variety is hard tobeat.
  • ‘Chinese multicolor’ (A. tricolor) is tasty in salads and stir fry, with unique leafpatterns.
  • ‘Aurelia’s Verde’ (A. cruentus) is a green head amaranth rich in vitamins and iron, reportedly saved from the Mayan communities of CentralAmerica.

Harvesting

Harvesting amaranth for cut flower arrangements is as simple as snipping off the head and placing the stem in a bucket of cool water until you are ready to use it. Amaranth blooms typically will last 7-10 days in thevase.

To harvest asgrain:

Check for the grain to be ready. On mature flowers, hold your hand under a flower and lightly brush it or rub. It’s likely ready if a bit of grain falls off in your hand. If only a seed or two drops, wait another few days and checkagain.

If you notice flocks of birds landing in your amaranth, it’s time to harvest,quick!

  • Harvest the entire flower head, trimming it off with shears orsecateurs.
  • Over a large bowl or tablecloth, lightly rub and agitate the flowers, letting the grain fall free to be captured. Shaking the heads in a clean pillowcase or bag can also workwell.
  • Winnow the grain by pouring from one bowl to another in a light breeze or in front of a fan. Amaranth is hull-less, but bits of dried flowers, insects, and chaff can beremoved.
  • The insects who stowed away will often hop along if you set the bowl near the ground and the sides are not too steep. Leave it for a few hours, and most will look for newhomes.
  • Store the grain in an air-tightcontainer.

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Wit and Wisdom

  • Amaranth has been cultivated for several thousand years in civilizations around theglobe.
  • The amaranth plant was highly significant in Aztec culture. The Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés banned its cultivation and threatened anyone caught growing it would be put todeath.
  • Amaranth seeds contain about 14 to 16% protein, are well balanced in amino acids, and high in the amino acidlysine.
  • Grain-type amaranth seeds can be popped and eaten likepopcorn.

Pests/Diseases

  • Aphids
  • Defoliating caterpillars (such as cabbage worms)

Flowers

About The Author

Andy Wilcox

Andy Wilcox is a flower farmer and master gardener with a passion for soil health, small producers, forestry, and horticulture. Read More from Andy Wilcox

How to Grow Amaranths: The Compete Amaranth Flower Guide (7)

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