Amaranthus caudatus: Uses (Ethnobotany)
Grain crop, leaf vegetable
Plant Profile: Amaranthus caudatus
Taxonomy: Amaranthus caudatusNames
foxtail amaranth, Love-Lies Bleeding, Tassel Flower, velvet flower
Phonetic Spelling:am-a-RAN-thus caw-DAY-tus
Genus:Amaranthus
Species:caudatus
Family:Amaranthaceae
This annual plant is renowned for its elongated, cascading tassels that come in shades of red or gold. It flowers from summer until the first frost. The genus name is derived from the Greek term "amarantos," which translates to "unfading," highlighting the enduring beauty of certain species' blooms. The specific epithet refers to the flower's tail-like appearance.
To thrive, the soil must remain consistently moist. It's best to transplant the plants after the last frost has passed. This variety is particularly well-suited for hanging baskets.
Amaranthus caudatus Feature Summary
Amaranthus caudatus Image Gallery
Tags
#gold
#red
#showy flowers
#full sun tolerant
#annual
#drought tolerant
#summer annual
#partial sun
#cut flowers
#low maintenance
#hanging baskets
#dried flowers
#long-lasting flowers
#tassels
#container plants
Similar Plants
Amaranthus caudatus Feature Summary
Attributes
Grain crop, leaf vegetable
Ecuador to NW. Argentina
Seeds, leaves
Annual
Flowers
This plant has long, slender (12in) tassels/spikes of small, petal-less, red to gold drooping flowers. They bloom from summer until frost. This flower doesn't bloom until 3 months after sowing.
Gold/Yellow
Red/Burgundy
Panicle
Good Cut
Showy
Long-lasting
Good Dried
Summer
Fall
Leaves
Leaves are solid, blood-red.
Deciduous
Green
Red/Burgundy
Simple
Alternate
Ovate
Lanceolate
Entire
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Good Drainage
12 inches-3 feet
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
2a
2b
3a
3b
9a
9b
10a
10b
11a
11b
Fruit
Achene
Stem
Green
Landscape
Drought
Container
Amaranthus caudatus Image Gallery
Amaranthus caudatus Attributes
Amaranthus caudatus: Country Or Region Of Origin
Ecuador to NW. Argentina
Amaranthus caudatus: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)
Drought
Amaranthus caudatus: Edibility
Seeds, leaves
Amaranthus caudatus: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Amaranthus caudatus: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Amaranthus caudatus Flowers
Amaranthus caudatus: Flower Description
This plant has long, slender (12in) tassels/spikes of small, petal-less, red to gold drooping flowers. They bloom from summer until frost. This flower doesn't bloom until 3 months after sowing.
Amaranthus caudatus: Flower Color
Gold/Yellow
Red/Burgundy
Amaranthus caudatus: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Amaranthus caudatus: Flower Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Amaranthus caudatus: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Amaranthus caudatus Leaves
Amaranthus caudatus: Leaf Description
Leaves are solid, blood-red.
Amaranthus caudatus: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Amaranthus caudatus: Leaf Color
Green
Red/Burgundy
Amaranthus caudatus: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Amaranthus caudatus: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Amaranthus caudatus: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Amaranthus caudatus: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Amaranthus caudatus: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Amaranthus caudatus Whole Plant Traits
Amaranthus caudatus: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Amaranthus caudatus: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Amaranthus caudatus: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Amaranthus caudatus: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Amaranthus caudatus Cultural Conditions
Amaranthus caudatus: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Amaranthus caudatus: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Amaranthus caudatus: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Amaranthus caudatus: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
10a
10b
11a
11b
2a
2b
3a
3b
4a
4b
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
Amaranthus caudatus Fruit
Amaranthus caudatus: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Amaranthus caudatus Stem
Amaranthus caudatus: Stem Color
Green
Amaranthus caudatus: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Amaranthus caudatus Landscape
Amaranthus caudatus: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Amaranthus caudatus: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
