Amaranths are Victorian flowers that deserve consideration
for your garden. Grain, vegetable and flowering types are native to the
Americas and were much-prized by the Aztecs.
Amaranths grow tall and bushy with heights ranging from two to eight
feet. They make a beautiful back-of-the-flower-border plant or temporary
shrub. Easy to grow in full sun, amaranths thrive against warm, southern
walls.
The leaves are spear-shaped and range in color from green to dark red,
yellow, orange and even fluorescent pink. Amaranth foliage is edible as
a cooked green and is very nutritious with a spinach-like flavor.
Love-lies-bleeding, or tassel flower produces long-lasting flowers with
erect or drooping tassels. One tassel may last for up to eight weeks. Color
shades include red, maroon and chartreuse green.
Prince's feather has leaves of purple, red and green, and bears tiny,
bright-red flowers.
Joseph's coat, a vegetative type amaranth, has insignificant flowers
but richly variegated foliage.
Amaranths are easily grown from seed if planted after the last frost
in warm soil. They are attractive cut flowers and are excellent for drying.
Painting by Pio Carlone
Garden Notes - Main Index
