Jan–MarApr–JunJul–SepOct–Dec
Planting
Days to maturity
Seasonal yields
Sow indoors · Direct sow · Transplant outdoors
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Plant · P-707
Love Lies Bleeding
Amaranthus caudatus
Love Lies Bleeding is an amaranth grown for its edible leaves and its grain, with tassel-like flower spikes that droop long and deep red instead of standing upright. The leaves cook like spinach, and the seed is unusually rich in lysine along with calcium, iron and zinc, making it a genuine grain rather than a garnish. It grows fast in full sun on fertile, well-drained soil, tolerates heat and drought once established, and self-sows so freely that a stand needs cutting before seed set to stay in bounds. One surprise: the raw grain has killed pigs that ate it for weeks, so it should never go into a pig's diet and needs heat treatment before it goes to poultry.
Record at a glance
Growing profile
- Sun
- Full Sun · Partial Sun
- USDA zone
- USDA 2–11
- Soil
- Sand · Loam · Clay
- Moisture
- Dry · Well-Drained · Moderate · Moist
Vertical layer
Herbaceous- Soil pH
- 4.3–8.5
- Plant type
- Annual
- Mature height
- 3–4 ft
- Mature spread
- 12–24 in
- Plant spacing
- 12–36 in
- Root type
- Tap
- Spread pattern
- Seed
Keep exploring
Similar plants
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Vigna angularis (Willd.) Ohwi & H.Ohashi
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African Eggplant
Solanum aethiopicum
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Agrimony
Agrimonia eupatoria
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Alfalfa
Medicago sativa
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Aloe Vera
Aloe vera
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Alsike Clover
Trifolium hybridum
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The deeper layer
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- Primary
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