Carmine Globe Amaranth/ Gomphrena
Gomphrena haageana

days to maturity: 95 days
plant spacing: 1 plant per square foot
sunlight requirements: 8-14 hours
look out for: not much!
harvest notes: great in bouquets
seasons: fall, winter, spring, summer
annual

Carmine Globe Amaranth, botanically known as Gomphrena, is a relative of the amaranth family (Amaranthacea). This giant family of plants is predominantly tropical and mostly edible, making it a great option for us in South Florida; this family is also where we get greens like callaloo and amaranth grain for cereals. Much like it’s close relative celosia, these little button shaped blooms make great dried flowers because they keep their shape and color perfectly. We’ve found the tough papery blooms to be pretty unpalatable, but try them as sweet decorations on cakes and drinks! They are also commonly used in long lasting leis in Hawai’i and as part of flower crowns and boutonnieres around the world. This bright magenta variety is a particularly tough plant and known for it’s pest resistance and handling a wide range of weather. They grow into knee high bushy plants with slightly fuzzy, grayish leaves. Even if you don’t end up cutting them for your flower decorations, they make a cute addition to gardens as a border or companion plants. Blooms come in all season, but are most prolific if they are harvested often.