Globe Amaranth
Raspberry Cream Gomphrena is a stunning flower cultivar that brings an unexpected creamy-raspberry glow to any garden setting. Growing 18 to 28 inches tall with a compact, bushy habit, this open-pollinated variety produces vibrant blooms in a luminous raspberry-cream color that seems to shimmer in summer light. Ready to flower in 85 to 100 days from seed, it thrives as either a bedding plant or premium cut flower, offering reliable color from mid-summer through frost.
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Moderate
10-11
28in H x ?in W
Annual
Moderate
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What sets Raspberry Cream apart is its unusual, glowing color, a soft fusion of raspberry and cream tones that stands apart from the typical globe amaranths gardeners expect. The compact bush form stays naturally tidy without aggressive pruning, and the flowers hold their color beautifully whether left standing in the garden or harvested for arrangements and drying. This variety's willingness to perform as both a landscape plant and a cut-and-dried flower makes it exceptionally versatile for gardeners seeking seasonal interest and long-lasting bouquets.
Raspberry Cream Gomphrena excels as a bedding plant for sunny borders and containers where its glowing color catches the eye from a distance. The flowers are prized for cutting, harvest them at the right stage and they dry beautifully for winter arrangements and dried flower crafts, retaining their distinctive color for months.
Sow seeds into 72-cell flats or your preferred seedling container 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost. Cover seeds lightly with 1/8 inch of growing media and provide warmth for consistent germination. Keep seedlings moist but not waterlogged, and provide bright light once they emerge.
After all danger of frost has passed and seedlings have been hardened off gradually over 7 to 10 days, transplant outdoors with 6 inches between plants. Handle seedlings gently, as they establish more readily when transplanted at the proper growth stage.
Direct seeding is not recommended for this variety; indoor seed starting produces stronger, more reliable plants.
For fresh cut flowers, harvest when blooms are fully colored but before they open completely, they'll continue to unfold in the vase and maintain their color longer. For drying, wait until flowers are completely open and at peak color, then cut stems and hang them upside-down in a warm, airy location away from direct sun. Dried flowers typically retain their distinctive raspberry-cream hue for several months.
Raspberry Cream's naturally compact, bushy growth habit requires minimal pruning. Pinching back young transplants when 3 to 4 inches tall encourages fuller, more branching plants and earlier flowering. Deadheading faded blooms throughout the season keeps flowers coming, though it is not essential for continuous color.
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