Love Lies Bleeding - Amaranth

Amaranth is a highly nutritious food dating back to the Aztecs and looks pretty cool on the roof.  It’s a self-sowing annual that is native to Central America, and found in India and Asia as well.  The leaves might not look like much, but the blossoms are fun to watch.  They can get quite quite long – up to 24 inches.  They tolerate the heat although they don’t thrive it in.  It takes a lot of fertilizer to keep the leaves looking nice.  Otherwise, it’s a nice long-lasting addition of low-maintenance color – red blossoms starting in July, and reaching their ultimate splendor in September.  When the tassels get really long, they need to be staked.  Amaranth doesn’t need dead-heading to continue blooming.  Sometimes the Rose of Sharon, Hibiscus and Morning Glories can wear me out with endless dead-heading to keep them blooming.

NUTRITIONAL VALUE:  All parts of this plant are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).  The roots will tonify the spleen.  The leaves are highly nutritious, similar to spinach.  The seeds are high in protein and minerals and can be cooked, popped, or ground into flour.  They contain high levels of L-Lysine, which might be why I like them.  They also  contain high levels of calcium, phosphorus, iron, potassium, zinc, vitamin E and B complex.

I love the way the long tassels touch other plants – they start off at the top of their own leafy stalk, but as they hang down, they will pass by other flowers along the way – as if they are coming to visit.