Flower
Love-Lies-Bleeding
Trailing Amaranth
Love-lies-bleeding is a dramatic annual with an unforgettable look: impossibly long, drooping flower tassels in deep blood red that dangle straight down from the plant throughout summer and into frost. Native to India, Africa, and Peru, this 2 to 4 foot tall plant thrives in zones 2-11 and earns its poetic common name from those distinctive pendant panicles that can stretch 12 inches long, occasionally reaching 24 inches. Grow it in full sun to partial shade with moderate water, and it rewards you with low-maintenance, showy blooms from July through the first frost.
Tubifex(CC BY-SA 3.0)
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-11
Sunlight
Partial Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam; Tolerates Poor Soil
Preferred Temp65-80°F
Growth Stats
48 in
Height
24 in
Width
18 in
Spacing
—
Days to Harvest
PeriodAnnual
TypeForb/herb
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Partial Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
2-11
Size
48in H x 24in W
Growth
Annual
Care
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
What sets love-lies-bleeding apart is its utterly theatrical appearance, those impossibly long, rope-like flower strands hanging vertically from the plant create drama that no other annual quite matches. The flowers themselves are tiny and petalless, arranged in narrow, drooping panicles that seem to defy gravity. Besides the classic blood-red forms, cultivars with yellow-green flowers offer a surprising alternative for gardeners seeking something different. The plant is genuinely low-maintenance once established, drought-tolerant, and attracts birds to your garden throughout the season.
Common Uses
Love-lies-bleeding is grown as an ornamental annual, valued for its striking dried and fresh flower arrangements. The long, pendant panicles are harvested for both cut flowers and dried arrangements, where they retain their deep color and structure beautifully for months.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Mid-summer
First Harvest
Late Summer
Last Harvest
Early Fall
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seed indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last frost date. Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost date has passed.
Transplant Outdoors
Set out transplants after your last frost date when soil has warmed. Harden off seedlings gradually before planting them in the garden.
Harvesting
Harvest flower tassels for arrangements once they have fully developed and reached their characteristic drooping form. For dried arrangements, cut the entire panicle when it is fully colored. Seed may be harvested from mature plants in the garden toward the end of the growing season.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Drought Tolerant
Bloom Time
July To Frost
Attracts
Birds
Tolerances
Drought
Scientific Classification
Amaranthus caudatus L.
Family
Amaranthaceae
Genus
Amaranthus
Duration
Annual
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)
History & Origin
“Amaranthus caudatus originates from three distinct regions across the tropical and subtropical world: India, Africa, and Peru. Each area independently valued this plant, and it has been cultivated for centuries in these regions. The plant eventually spread to European gardens, where its dramatic appearance and long ornamental tassels made it a favorite Victorian favorite, and it has remained a garden staple ever since.”