How to grow Amaranthus caudatus

Amaranthus caudatus grow and care – herbaceous of the genus Amaranthus also known as Love lies bleeding plant. Amaranthus caudatus annual plant and also used as ornamental plant, grow in mediterranean, subtropical, temperate or tropic climate and growing in hardiness zone 2+.

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Love lies bleeding amaranth edible leaves and flowers

Leaves are edible, the color is green.

Flowers red or white inflorescence grow on stalk that weeping down, the seeds are also edible

Amaranthus caudatus for sale – Seeds or Plants to Buy

How to grow Amaranthus caudatus growing and care:

Moist, rich soil, mulch, sometimes the plants need support of cane that the plant won’t fall

What is the best way to start growing:
Seedling / Seed (explanation below) / Cutting – cut stem in new growth, if there isn’t growth cut the top of the plant it will induce new growth, after the stem grow cut and put it in moist soil with high humidity care that the soil won’t dry, better not to do it when the plant is bloom and generally not a lot success

Is it necessary to graft or use vegetative reproduction?
No, better to grow from seeds

Difficulties/Problems with growing:
Aggressive, can be invasive

Planting season:
Spring, (in cold area better start growing indoor in the end of the winter than to transfer it outdoor after the last frost), when buy small plant in warm region possible to plant it in the summer

Pests and diseases:
Apids, prodenia, slugs

Pruning season:
Summer / Autumn, possible all year, better after the plant dead or in the spring before the flowers

How to prune:
Recommend to prune the flowers, usually not necessary to prune, but if needed that the plant will be small or more full of stems better to cut in the top of the plant in the spring after the plant establish, care when you prune not too much before flowers.

Size of the plant:
0.4-1 m, 16-40 inches

Growth speed in optimal condition:
Fast growing / Medium growing

Irrigation water management requirement:
Average amount of water

Light conditions in optimal condition for growing:
Full Sun, can be with less than full sun, it will affect the amount of flowers, although better to prune the colored leaves mostly grow next to the flowers

Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant?
No

Growing is also possible in a pot / planter /flowerpot / containers:
Yes, when grow in container size better to be 5-8 liter (1.5-2 gallon), require average amount of water, it’s to keep the soil moist consider to put mulch and can reduce vaporization of the water, need to take care that the soil well ventilated with good drainage, rich with organic matter, can use in potting mix or peat soil with perlite or vermiculite.

Blooming information

When does flowers bloom?
Summer / Autumn

General information about Love lies bleeding flower:
Red or white small flowers, inflorescence stalk that weeping down

Pollination is done by:
Bees

Edible leaves

When to trim the leaves?
Spring / Summer / Autumn

How to trim Love lies bleeding leaves?
Cut the stems or just leaves from the base

Information about leaves:
Oval green leaves

Edible Uses of Amaranthus caudatus leaves:
Eaten raw, salad, stir fry, cooked

How to grow Amaranthus caudatus from seeds

Sowing requirement:
Rich soil, humidity, sunny location, and hot climate better not too much

Saving seeds until sowing:
Dry and dark location

Sowing season:
Spring after the last frost to early summer in hardiness zone 2-10a, in hardiness zone 10b+ can be planted all the year mostly germinate in spring or autumn but will looks less good in the winter and might won’t grow well

Planting spacing:
20*30cm (8-12 inches)

Depth of Sowing:
1-10mm

Conditions for seeds germinate:
Moist soil, full sun, warm weather

Watering requires for Seeds:
Average amount of water / Big amount of water

Germination time:
2 weeks to 12 month

Condition of seedling:
Water regularly and weed free

Scientific name:

Amaranthus caudatus

How to grow Amaranthus caudatus

Amaranthus caudatus bloom

Amaranthus caudatus bloom season

Amaranthus caudatus white flowers

Amaranthus caudatus

Growing Love Lies Bleeding Amaranth

Love Lies Bleeding Amaranth harvest

Love Lies Bleeding Amaranth

Love Lies Bleeding Amaranth plant

Categories

Blooming Seasons
  • Autumn flowers
  • Summer flowers
Edible Parts
  • Edible leaves
Culinary uses
  • Cooked
  • Eaten raw
  • Salad
Flower colors
  • Red flower
  • White flower
Climate
  • Mediterranean Climate
  • Subtropics Climate
  • Temperate Climate
  • Tropics Climate
Harvest Season
  • Autumn Harvest
  • Spring Harvest
  • Summer Harvest
Ornamental parts
  • Ornamental flower
  • Ornamental leaves
Plant growing speed
  • Average growing plants
  • Fast growing plants
Plant life-form
  • Annual plant
  • Herbaceous
Plant Uses
  • Edible plants
  • Ornamental plants
Planting Season
  • Spring Planting
Plants sun exposure
  • Full sun Plants
Watering plants
  • Regularly water
Hardiness zone
  • Hardiness zone 10
  • Hardiness zone 11
  • Hardiness zone 12
  • Hardiness zone 13
  • Hardiness zone 2
  • Hardiness zone 3
  • Hardiness zone 4
  • Hardiness zone 5
  • Hardiness zone 6
  • Hardiness zone 7
  • Hardiness zone 8
  • Hardiness zone 9

Growing in Pots, Balconies & Indoors

Love-lies-bleeding (Amaranthus caudatus) is a striking annual grown for its trailing crimson tassels and edible leaves and grain. The grower does not treat it as a houseplant, but it grows well in a 5-8 L pot on a sunny balcony or patio.

Quick Details

  • Container Size: 5-8 L (1.5-2 gal) – the grower’s guide
  • Indoor Suitability: Not a houseplant – a sun-loving annual
  • Best Spot: Full sun (part sun only reduces flowering)
  • Soil & Drainage: Well-ventilated, organic-rich mix with good drainage (grower)
  • Watering in Pots: Average needs – keep the soil moist, helped by mulch (grower)

Indoors & On the Windowsill

  • Houseplant: No – the grower marks it as not an indoor plant; it needs full sun.
  • Windowsill growing: Only for starting seedlings on a sunny sill before planting out.

On a Balcony or Patio

  • Light & wind: Give it full sun (a little less only trades some flowering); tall types catch the wind, so stake or shelter them. Pots in sun dry fast – the grower’s mulch tip helps hold moisture.
  • Practicalities: A stable pot keeps top-heavy plants upright; easy to move while young.

Choosing the Pot, Soil & Long-Term Care

  • Pot & drainage: A 5-8 L (1.5-2 gal) pot (the grower’s size) with strong drainage holes; Use a pot with strong drainage holes and skip a standing-water saucer to avoid root rot; terracotta breathes and dries out faster, while glazed or plastic pots hold moisture longer.
  • Potting mix: The grower advises a well-ventilated, well-drained mix rich in organic matter – potting mix or peat soil with perlite or vermiculite.
  • Feeding: Potted plants use up their soil quickly because watering leaches nutrients away, so feed a little more often than plants in open ground through the growing season.
  • Season: As an annual it finishes in one season, so start each new crop in fresh mix rather than repotting.

Grower’s Container Tip

  • Mulch to hold moisture: The grower advises mulching the surface of the pot to keep the soil moist and cut water loss, and watching that the mix stays evenly moist.

Bloom & Flower Guide

Quick Details

  • Bloom Season: Summer to autumn
  • Time to First Bloom: In its first year (annual)
  • Flower Appearance: Long, weeping tassel-like inflorescences in red or white
  • Edibility: Not eaten as a flower (the leaves and seeds are the edible parts)

Detailed Blooming Overview

Love-lies-bleeding is grown above all for its flowers — long red or white tassels that cascade downward in dramatic, weeping ropes through summer and autumn.

Flower Characteristics

  • Small flowers massed into long, drooping catkin-like tassels that weep down the plant.

Bloom Care & Thinning

  • Pollination & seed set: Bees (and wind).