I found these beautiful plants in one of the cities road side planters. I love them and they still look beautiful even in the fall. I am assuming they are annuals, as the city usually plants every spring. They are about 2 1/2 feet tall. Does anyone know what they are called. I would love to grow some in my garden in the spring. Catherine
It's Amaranth. Maybe Amaranthus cruentus? There are different cultivars. They all seem to be about that colour, but there are some interesting inflorescence shapes.
Definitely Sanguarachi, Amaranthus cruentus. Apart from being gorgeous, you can make a very pleasant herbal tea from it. Incidentally, if the plants are still there with those lovely fuzzy flowerheads, you can harvest seed from them by putting a paper bag over the flowerhead, holding the base closed, and shaking vigorously, then gently bending the inflorescence to horizontal to remove the bag. The seeds look like poppyseed.
That is so cool, would I plant them in the spring then? I think I am going to do that, since I have not ever seen this in a nursery around here. I wonder if motorists will look at me weird as I shake up the plants on the side of the road. lol
Yup, spring planting. They grow quite quickly (well, for me at least, but my climate is similar to Canadian spring) and should start blooming in August.
