Globe amaranth is a compact, upright plant with colorful blooms that resemble a bright and cheerful clover. Beginning flower gardeners will love this no-fail, easy to grow beauty. And, the most experienced green thumbs out there will love globe amaranth simply for its good looks. No annual garden should be without these bobbing beauties.
A tender, flowering annual that can be grown everywhere in the U.S., globe amaranth (Gomphrena globosa) blooms in shades of pink, purple, and white. It’s a lovely addition in the garden where it provides continuous blooms from early summer on. Use it in a sunny border along with shorter, complementary-colored annuals. Hummingbirds and butterflies will thank you.
Globe amaranth flowers make beautiful indoor arrangements. And globe amaranth dries effortlessly for year round decorative possibilities.
How to Grow and Care for Globe Amaranth
Globe amaranth is a plant that should be started indoors from seed. Plant your seeds 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost in your area. Tuck them into a sterile soil mix especially for seeds. The soil should be moistened before you set your seeds into it.
Transplant your seedlings outdoors after the last frost when the seedlings have grown two sets of leaves. Plant your seedlings 8 inches apart. Your globe amaranth will grow up to 2 feet tall, and it will appreciate the growing room. It will also enjoy full sun and a regular watering schedule. Once your globe amaranth is mature, you can count on it to be drought and heat tolerant.
To trigger more blooms, take cuttings. Pop the cut stems in a vase to enjoy on a patio or inside. Meanwhile, your plant will burst with blooms thanks to the space you free up from trimmings.
For extra long lasting enjoyment, globe amaranth can be dried in a snap, too. Simply cut a few stems during the heat of the day so the stem and flower are dry. Strip the stems of their leaves. Then, tie the stems together, and hang them upside down. After a week or two, check them to see if they are fully dry. You’ll be amazed at how well dried globe amaranths maintain their color.
Globe Amaranth Pests, Diseases and Problems
Globe amaranth has a happy disposition that fortifies it against any real pests and problems. Just make sure to keep it dry, and allow it to soak up lots of bright sun. Allow plenty of space around each plant so air can move around to keep it dry. It’s really a gardener’s best friend. It is low maintenance and positively bouncy!
Globe Amaranth Varieties
‘Las Vegas Purple’ looks like a party with round, deep purple flowers. Among the purple bursts are dots of creamy white. This average 18 inch sized plant screams fun!
‘Strawberry Fields’ is a larger variety that blooms with striking 2 foot tall bright red-orange flowers.
‘Gnome Series’ is an adorable, small, 6-inch tall variety with a mix of colors. Perfect for a fairy garden, its pink, purple, and white blossoms are simply darling.
Want to learn more about growing globe amaranth?
See these resources:
Gomphrena globosa Globe Amarantha from UF/IFAS Extension Service
Globe Amaranth from University of Wisconsin Extension
Cooperative Extension
Globe Amaranth from UMass Extension
Creative Commons Flickr photo courtesy of coniferconifer
will gomphrena overwinter inside?
When I bought my gomphrena (truffula pink) it was happy and had tons of blooms after transplanting into a pot the blooms slowly began to fade and so one by one I cut the dead blooms off and now it will no longer produce full blooms. You can see the beginnings of the blooms but they wont come all the way out! 🙁 What do you think is causing it and what can I do to get the blooms to come out?