Amaranth Red Tower

What Amaranth Red Tower is

Amaranth Red Tower (Amaranthus cruentus) is an annual flower of the Amaranth family (Amaranthaceae). Amaranth is a fast-growing annual that reaches a height of 0.3 to 2-3 m.

Its high ornamental value is due not only to the flowers — dark red, purple, pink, orange, yellow and white — but also to the leaves, which are coloured red, violet, yellow or green.

Amaranth is both an ornamental plant with impressive drooping or upright flower heads and a valuable food — the leaves are a vegetable and the seeds a gluten-free grain.

Key features

• Measured germination rate of the batch: 75%
• Pack size: 0.2 g
• Seed origin: China
• Sowing: April – June; direct or seedlings
• Flowering: April and May
• Position: sunny spot

When to sow Amaranth Red Tower

Amaranth Red Tower seeds are sown in April – June. The plants flower in April and May. The months are a guide for a temperate climate — in warmer areas sow 1–2 weeks earlier, in cooler or upland areas, later.

How to sow and grow Amaranth Red Tower

• Sowing method: direct or seedlings
• Depth: 0.5 cm
• Spacing: 30–50 cm
• Germination: 5–10 days at 20–25 °C
• Position: sunny spot

It is sown in the ground at the end of April or in May. Sow at a depth of 1.5cm. in light, not too wet soils in bright sunlight. There should be 45cm between rows. spacing, and 7-10cm between the seeds.

Sow in warm soil after the last frosts. Tolerates heat and drought.

Flowering and uses

The flower heads are suitable for fresh and dried bouquets.

Frequently asked questions

When should Amaranth Red Tower be sown?

The recommended sowing months are April – June. Sowing method: direct or seedlings.

What is the germination rate of the seeds?

The measured germination rate of this batch is 75%. The test was carried out under controlled laboratory conditions; in the field, emergence depends on soil, temperature and moisture.

Is amaranth edible?

Yes — the young leaves are cooked like spinach, and the seeds are used as a grain.