How to Grow Gomphrena (Globe Amaranth)
Gomphrena, commonly known as globe amaranth, is an easy-to-grow, drought- and disease-resistant plant that boasts long-lasting blooms. Thriving in hot summers, its vibrant pops of pink, white, purple, and red add much-needed color during the warmest months. This comprehensive guide will teach you how to grow gomphrena successfully in your garden.
Article Index:
- Starting Gomphrena from Seed or Transplant
- Choosing the Right Time to Plant Globe Amaranth
- Planting and Caring for Gomphrena
- Growing Gomphrena as a Cut Flower
- Drying Gomphrena for Long-Lasting Blooms
Starting Gomphrena from Seed or Transplant
The first step to adding this beautiful plant to your garden is learning how to grow gomphrena from seed or buying transplants. To start from seed, sow them indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost date. Lightly cover the seeds with soil—refer to my indoor seed starting guide for detailed instructions. When the seedlings reach 3–5 inches (7.5–12.5 cm) tall, it’s time to plant. Harden off seedlings before planting. Learn more here.
If you prefer to purchase transplants, look for small, compact plants with fresh, green leaves and few blossoms. Avoid those with wilted leaves and stems, plants that seem too large for their container, or any signs of pest damage.
Recommended Varieties of Gomphrena:
- QIS (Quality in Seed) Series: Ideal for cut flowers; grows 18–28 inches (45–70 cm) tall.
- Strawberry Fields: A hybrid with large, bright-red flowers; reaches 18–28 inches (45–70 cm) tall.
- Ping Pong Lavender: Perfect for containers; features lavender blooms; stands 16–20 inches (40–50 cm) tall.
Choosing the Right Time to Plant Globe Amaranth
Knowing when to plant is crucial in learning how to grow globe amaranth effectively. Gomphrena is a warm-season plant. Transplant them outside after all danger of frost has passed and temperatures are consistently above 70°F (21°C).
In the Low Desert of Arizona:
- Start Seeds Indoors:
- Plant Transplants Outside:
- Bloom Period: Expect blooms from April through September or October.
Excellent companion plants for globe amaranth include other heat-loving crops like zinnias, basil, and amaranth. For a list of other flowers that love hot summers, read this blog post.
Planting and Caring for Gomphrena
Understanding how to grow gomphrena involves proper planting and care. Globe amaranth thrives in full sun with well-drained, fertile soil and regular water. This resilient plant tolerates poor soil and drought but benefits from deep watering during hot spells. There’s no need to pinch globe amaranth back; it’s naturally branching. (Learn more about pinching flowers here.) It has an upright form and does not require support.
Gomphrena is disease-resistant and has relatively few pest problems. Gomphrena attracts butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects, enhancing your garden’s natural beneficial insect population.
You can often grow globe amaranth as a perennial in mild winter climates. Gomphrena can be left in the ground to overwinter. Several gomphrena plants have thrived in my low desert Arizona garden for over a year. When temperatures warm in the spring, the plants begin growing again.
Growing Gomphrena as a Cut Flower
This summer staple in my Arizona garden is also an excellent cut flower. During the hot summer, gomphrena is a reliable bloomer and a regular in all my flower arrangements. It makes an excellent filler. The more you cut the flowers, the more they bloom.
When using gomphrena blooms as cut flowers, note the best time to harvest:
- Small with weak stem – a little early.
- Round with flower opening within bracts – not fully open. The best stage for harvesting.
- Elongated – Some bracts falling off – shatters easily – past prime.
Harvest flowers by cutting deep at the base of the plant. This encourages more blooms and lower branching. Remove leaves below the water level on the stem. Blooms last up to 14 days in a vase (without preservatives).
Gomphrena flowers are versatile. They are edible – learn more about edible flowers in this guide. You can use them as cake decorations. They are great for boutonnières and flower crowns.
Drying Gomphrena for Long-Lasting Blooms
Learning how to grow globe amaranth also includes knowing how to dry the flowers so you can enjoy them even longer. Gomphrena is perfect for drying and retains most of its original color. Dried flowers can last up to a year, providing long-lasting beauty.
To dry globe amaranth:
- Snip off foliage from the stem.
- Secure several (8–10) stems together.
- Hang them upside down in a dark, well-ventilated area for 2–3 weeks until they are firm to the touch.
- Handle dried gomphrena flowers gently, as they are fragile and can fall apart easily.
By following these tips on how to grow gomphrena, you’ll enjoy vibrant, long-lasting blooms in your garden throughout the hottest months and into fall.
Want to add more color to your garden with flowers?
Arizona annual flowers planting guide helps you learn when to plant flowers in Arizona, and whether to plant seeds or transplants.
Hello, I tried growing these and the foliage pretty quickly turned more of a yellow green. They were planted in big pots in full sun and watered daily during the heat of summer. Do you think I watered them too much?
Yes, yellowing generally means too much water. You may not have to water every day, they are fairly drought tolerant.
Hi, Thanks for this post. Do you remember the name of the light pink variety in the 2nd picture?
I believe it is the ping pong lavender. I looked through old pics to see if it was labeled anywhere, but couldn’t find it. I looked at my seed packets and that’s the closest one to the bloom color.