A Considered Choice｜ Other Products ｜Amaranthus Red (Love-Lies-Bleeding)

A favourite of Victorian gardeners, 'Love-Lies-Bleeding' is unapologetically bold. It produces long, weeping ropes of deep crimson flowers that look like chenille velvet. These tassels can grow up to 60cm long, cascading from the tall stems all the way to the ground.
This is a plant that demands attention. It adds a unique downward movement to flower arrangements, looking incredible spilling over the edge of a large urn or pedestal vase. It is also one of the easiest flowers to dry—simply hang it upside down, and the red tassels will hold their colour and shape for years.

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Understanding the Plant

Amaranthus caudatus is a Half-Hardy Annual.
It is a vigorous, fast-growing plant that needs space to show off its trailing habit. It originates from the tropics (South America), so it thrives in a warm, sunny summer.
The "Ancient Grain": While we grow it for the flowers, this is the same species grown by the Incas for its nutritious seeds (Amaranth grain). The leaves are also edible (like spinach), though we recommend leaving them for the plant to fuel those huge flowers!

Growing Guide: How to Sow and Grow

Amaranthus hates the cold. Treat it like a tomato or chilli plant.
Germination:Sow indoors in April-May. Surface sow onto moist compost and cover lightly with vermiculite. Keep warm (20°C). Germination is rapid (7-10 days).
Where to Sow:Do not plant out until June or when all risk of frost has passed. It needs a sunny, sheltered spot. It tolerates poor, dry soil surprisingly well (rich soil makes it grow huge leaves but fewer flowers).
Care While Growing:Staking: The flower tassels are heavy! Even though the stems are thick, a bamboo cane is often needed to stop the plant toppling over under the weight of its own beauty.

Plant Specifications

Latin Name

Amaranthus caudatus 'Red'

Common Name
Love-Lies-Bleeding / Tassel Flower

Hardiness

H2 (Half-Hardy - Needs Frost Protection)

Light Required
Full Sun ☀️

Height
↕️ 90cm - 120cm (Tall)

Spread
↔️ 50cm

Spacing
45cm apart

Great for
Dried Flowers Gothic Gardens Large Containers✂️ Statement Arrangements

Seed Count
Approx. 250 seeds per packet (Tiny seeds)

Perfect Garden Companions

Amaranthus needs bold partners that won't be overshadowed by its size:

Sunflowers (Helianthus): The Height Match. Only Sunflowers are tall enough to stand alongside Amaranthus. The yellow heads and red tassels create a vibrant, hot-coloured jungle effect.

Cosmos 'Purity': The Contrast. The white, airy clouds of Cosmos foliage help break up the heavy, solid ropes of the Amaranthus, preventing the border from looking too dense.

Sowing & Flowering Calendar

Sow indoors in spring. Plant out June. Flowers July to October.

Month
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Sow Indoors

Plant Out

Flowers

⚠️ Drying TipCut the stems when the tassels have formed but before they start to drop pollen (which makes a mess). Strip the leaves off and hang upside down in a warm, dark place. They dry to a rich, deep burgundy.

Officially Recognised Excellence
This plant is a biodiversity booster. The seeds are a vital food source for garden birds like finches and sparrows in late autumn and winter.
Brand:Bishy Barnabees Cottage Garden LtdCategory:AnnualSKU:AMA-REDTags:Bishy Barnabees Cottage Garden Ltd, COLLECTIVE, Shopify Collective