Horticulture

 

Plant Spotlight: Amaranthus
(Love-Lies-Bleeding)
A very unique looking annual in the Gardens this summer is Amaranthus, Love-Lies-Bleeding or the common name ‘Tassel Flower’. Its’ cascading blooms of deep red to magenta flowers gives this plant a graceful appearance and separates it from all other annuals in the Garden. It can be used in containers as a focal point or as an accent plant in flower beds. It prefers full sun and performs well in most types of soils. It can be sown directly into the ground after the first frost or transplanted. It reseeds itself very quickly and can spread to other areas of the garden where it may not be wanted. An interesting aspect about this plant is that it was used as a staple grain of the Incas, Aztecs, and other pre-Columbian people. This plant is like no other annual in the Gardens.