Full Sun
Moderate care
Moderate watering
Tender
10b
USDA zone
2°C
Minimum temperature
Expected size
Height | Spread | |
|---|---|---|
2m | Max | 2m |
50cm | Min | 50cm |
Flowering
spring
summer
autumn
winter
This plant has a mild fragrance
More images of Purple Amaranth
Purple Amaranth Overview
Amaranthus cruentus is believed to have originated from Amaranthus hybridus, with which it shares many morphological features. It’s equally at home among tropical plants or colder climate perennials. The plant is usually green in color, but a purple variant was once grown for use in Inca rituals. There is about 50 Amaranthus species and three(A. cruensis, A. caudatus and A. hypochondriacus) is used commercially in producing grains. It is a low GI food, rich in proteins and vitamins. Amaranthus is one of the C4 plants, being very effective in using Carbon in producing biomass. Uses: Culinary, medicinal, soil conditioner.
Common problems with Purple Amaranth
Hot, humid weather tend to exacerbate disease and pest issues, like white rust and brown rust. Wet rot or stemrot caused by the fungus Choanephora cucurbitarumis is the main disease. Amaranthus are also prone to aster yellows, viruses, and aphids.
Purple Amaranth Companion Plants
Beetroot, onions, sweetcorn, tomatoes, eggplant, potatoes
How to harvest Purple Amaranth
Harvest fresh leaves throughout spring, summer and autumn. Start harvesting seeds when the flowers starts dying or browning a bit. At this time, cut all of the flowers and place them in paper bags to dry the rest of the way. Collect seeds by shaking seed heads over an open dish.
How to propagate Purple Amaranth
Seed
Sowing time best in Spring/Summer with a spacing of 50 cm to 1 m. Sowing depth is ideally 6 mm. Germination time takes between 5 - 12 days.
Special features of Purple Amaranth
Crop rotation
Heavy Feeder
Other uses of Purple Amaranth
Culinary, medicinal, soil conditioner
culinary
Leaves are edible when young.
medicinal
Source of vitamins and minerals boosting immune system.