Velvet Curtains Amaranthus is a dramatic ornamental grain that transforms borders and containers with its cascading, rope-like flower spikes in deep burgundy. This open-pollinated cultivar of Amaranthus caudatus matures in 65 to 75 days, reaching a compact growth habit that belies its bold visual impact. Johnny's Selected Seeds developed it as a substitute for Red Spike, offering gardeners a reliable variety for fresh or dried arrangements that commands attention whether displayed in borders or hanging from a shelf.
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Deep burgundy flower spikes drape and curl like velvet curtains, creating a theatrical effect in gardens or dried arrangements. The compact growth habit means you can tuck it into containers or garden edges without it overwhelming neighboring plants. Hardy enough to direct seed after frost danger, yet delicate enough to harvest and dry for months of indoor enjoyment, it delivers year-round visual drama from a single planting.
This amaranth serves primarily as an ornamental accent, excelling in border plantings where its trailing flower spikes can cascade over edges or along back beds. It shines as a fresh cut flower for arrangements, and its firm-textured inflorescences dry exceptionally well, holding color and form for dried bouquets, wreaths, and long-term storage. Gardeners also grow it in containers to showcase its graceful, curtain-like draping habit up close.
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Sow seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your last frost date. Maintain temperatures between 62 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit until seedlings are ready to transplant out. This gives you a head start on the growing season and ensures strong, vigorous transplants.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after all danger of frost has passed. Space plants 12 inches apart in full sun. Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days before planting.
Direct seed after danger of frost in your area. Sow seeds where you want plants to grow, keeping soil consistently moist until seedlings emerge. Thin seedlings to 12 inches apart once they reach 2 to 3 inches in height.
For fresh cut flowers, harvest spikes when at least three-quarters of the flowers on each inflorescence have opened; this stage gives you the longest vase life and the most dramatic color. For drying, wait until seed has begun to set on the flowers and the inflorescence feels firm to the touch. Stand trailing varieties upright in a bucket or tall container while drying to maintain their distinctive draped appearance.
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“Velvet Curtains represents a deliberate selection within the Amaranthus caudatus species. Johnny's Selected Seeds introduced it as a direct substitute for Red Spike, a classic trailing amaranth variety. This cultivation suggests a lineage of careful varietal refinement, where seedsmen identified and stabilized the most desirable burgundy coloring and draping habit to create a predictable, gardener-friendly alternative to its predecessor.”