An Annual Worth Your Time: ‘Strawberry Fields’ Globe Amaranth

This plant is known for its unbelievable red color and performance as a cut flower

I relish the brightness and warmth oftrue red in sunny garden designs , although I prefer it in moderateness . ‘ Strawberry Fields ’ globe amaranth ( Gomphrena haageana‘Strawberry Fields ’ , Zones 11–12 ) has been part of my landscape painting figure for over twenty yr . While really a bid perennial , this flora is mostly grown as an yearbook . The stunning , shiny carmine , globular flower structure pose high atop the foliation , meander themselves throughout the beds , borders , and container . While there are many species and change of globe amaranth ( Gomphrenaspp . and cvs . , Zones 9–11 ) uncommitted in shadiness of white , orange , red , pink , and reddish blue , this variety continues to be my favorite , as the vivid lipstick - red bloom structures offer a startling vibrancy to the landscape painting .

Globe amaranth at a glance

Native to Mexico , New Mexico , and Texas , this species of Amaranthaceae has proven performance in very raging and cheery climates and can adapt to juiceless soil . While drouth broad , globe amaranth ( Gomphrena haagenana , Zones 10–11 ) does prefer steady moisture , although it can also tolerate Henry Clay soil and shrug off extreme humidity . Globe amaranth is also quite cervid - resistant , with very few insect or disease trouble .

Unique flower structure

This annual blooms from June until Robert Lee Frost on upright , fork stems that attain up to 24 inches in altitude . The flowers of ‘ Strawberry Fields ’ globe amaranth are quite interesting upon closer inspection , as they appear as globular , 1½-inch - wide bloom head with a papery grain like that of clover bloom . This flower architecture is quite striking in the garden , as the red coloring material donation seems to be hovering in position . The color is really provided by the bracts , with the unfeigned bloom being flyspeck scandalmongering trumpets that can only be seen from up close . The flowers attract both bees and butterfly .

The ultimate cut and dried flower

This selection is also very pop in saucily cut arrangements and as a dried flower . As a cut flower , ‘ Strawberry Fields ’ is conclusion for a very long clock time in a vase . With a long and established history as a popular dried flower , it retains the awesome chroma of red bracts with seniority . When drying this excerption , denude the leaves and then hang secured bundles with the long stems intact upside down in a dark , dry , and well - ventilate placement .

How to grow ‘Strawberry Fields’ globe amaranth

‘ Strawberry Fields ’ globe amaranth is sometimes sold as a spring bed plant life , and it benefit from being planted after the ground has warmed sufficiently in natural spring . Consider planting this selection in groups or small masses or scattered in containers or molding where a bit of red ink will offer up intrigue and bold richness . Many seed companionship offer this pick , although semen germination is notoriously poor with this works . If you do take to grow from seed , inseminate seeds thick in trays six to eight weeks before the last frost . breed lightly with about 1/8 inch of growing spiritualist . Keep the soil control surface moist . Transplant seedlings to cell packs or larger containers about three hebdomad after sprouting . Young plants installed in the landscape can be twitch back to further more fork . Periodic fertilisation is beneficial over the course of the turn season .

view ‘ Strawberry Fields ’ globe amaranth for your garden . It has prove carrying out and contributes spectacular colouring in landscape designs or arrangements . For more salient annuals worth the sentence and crusade , check out the succeed articles :

— Mark Dwyer , former managing director of gardening at Rotary Botanical Gardens in Janesville , Wisconsin , operates Landscape Prescriptions by MD .

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