How to Grow Amaranth Love Lies Bleeding

Amaranth Love Lies Bleeding

Amaranthus caudatus

flower

Love Lies Bleeding is an ornamental amaranth variety known for its distinctive long, drooping crimson-red flower spikes that can reach 18-24 inches in length. This tender annual produces dramatic, velvet-textured panicles that cascade downward, creating a striking visual effect in gardens and floral arrangements. The plant reaches 3-4 feet in height and is both visually stunning and edible, with nutritious seeds and leaves.

Growing Conditions

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Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily minimum

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Water: Moderate watering; allow soil to dry slightly between waterings. Drought tolerant once established. Water at soil level to prevent leaf diseases.

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Spacing: 12-18 inches

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Days to maturity: 70-80 days to flowering

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Planting depth: 1/4 inch; seeds are tiny and should be surface-sown or barely covered

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy to sandy soil

pH: 6.0-7.0

Amendments:

compost aged manure perlite for drainage

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Grows as an annual in all zones; thrives in zones 9-11 as a tender perennial

2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b

Growth Stages

Seedling

2-3 weeks

Tiny seeds germinate into delicate seedlings with cotyledons and first true leaves within 7-10 days.

Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Provide bright light. Thin seedlings to proper spacing once they have 2-3 true leaves.

Vegetative Growth

3-4 weeks

Plant develops sturdy stems and broad green or reddish leaves. Height increases rapidly during warm weather.

Ensure adequate sun exposure. Water regularly and fertilize every 3-4 weeks with balanced fertilizer. Pinch back young plants for bushier growth if desired.

Flower Bud Formation

2-3 weeks

Terminal flower spikes begin to develop at the top and axils of the plant; small buds appear along the drooping panicles.

Maintain consistent watering and sunlight. Begin reducing nitrogen fertilizer to encourage flowering over foliage growth.

Flowering & Maturation

6-8 weeks

Characteristic long, pendulous crimson-red flower spikes extend downward, creating the distinctive 'love lies bleeding' appearance. Flowers may fade to deep burgundy as they mature.

Continue regular watering. Remove spent flowers to encourage continued blooming. Support tall stems with stakes if needed in windy locations.

Seed Production & Harvest

4-6 weeks

Flowers fade and develop into seed heads with tiny, shiny black seeds. Lower flowers mature while upper flowers still bloom.

Allow plants to dry on the stem if harvesting seeds. Cut entire seed heads into paper bags and dry completely before threshing.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

marigolds zinnias celosia dusty miller salvias basil beans

Avoid planting near:

fennel spinach

Common Pests

Handpick affected leaves and flowers. Spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap in early morning. Encourage natural predators.
Increase humidity through misting. Spray with water forcefully to dislodge mites. Apply neem oil or miticide if severe.
Spray with strong water stream. Use neem oil or insecticidal soap. Introduce ladybugs or parasitic wasps.
and
Remove by hand at dawn or dusk. Use copper tape barriers or organic slug bait around plants.

Uses

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Cut & Dried Floral Arrangements

Household

The dramatic drooping crimson spikes make exceptional cut flowers for fresh arrangements and are prized for dried bouquets. Hang-dry the stems upside-down in a cool, dark location for long-lasting floral displays. [source]

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Grain & Seed Harvesting

Culinary

Amaranth seeds are nutrient-dense pseudocereals high in protein and amino acids. The tiny seeds can be popped like popcorn, ground into flour, or cooked as porridge. [source]

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Edible Leaves

Culinary

Young amaranth leaves are tender and nutritious, used in salads or cooked like spinach. They contain high levels of vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals beneficial to health. [source]

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Traditional Herbal Remedy

Medicinal

Amaranth has been used in traditional medicine systems for blood sugar regulation and anti-inflammatory properties. Leaves and seeds contain polyphenols and squalene. [source]

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Bird & Pollinator Food

Wildlife

Seed heads attract finches, sparrows, and other granivorous birds. The flowers attract bees and butterflies, supporting pollinator populations in the garden. [source]

This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.

Harvest Tips

Cut flower spikes at any time for fresh or dried arrangements. For seeds, allow flowers to dry on the plant, then harvest entire seed heads and dry indoors for 2-3 weeks. Thresh by rubbing dried heads between hands to release seeds. Young leaves can be harvested as microgreens or tender greens before flowering.

Fun Facts

🌱 Love Lies Bleeding gets its poetic common name from the long, pendant flower spikes that resemble drops of blood falling downward—a metaphor used in Victorian flower language.
🌱 Amaranth was a staple crop of the Aztecs, revered as a sacred plant and incorporated into religious ceremonies and rituals before Spanish conquest.
🌱 The seeds are incredibly small—approximately 1,000 seeds weigh only 1 gram—yet each plant can produce thousands of seeds, making it one of the most prolific seed producers in the vegetable garden.

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