Globe Amaranth
Strawberry Fields Gomphrena is a vibrant red variety of Gomphrena haageana prized as one of the finest options for cut flowers and garden bedding. This open-pollinated cultivar grows as a compact bush reaching 18 to 28 inches tall, producing abundant deep red blooms that hold their color beautifully whether fresh or dried. Hardy from zones 3 through 10 and reaching flowering maturity in 85 to 100 days, it thrives in full sun and performs well as a long-season bloomer for borders, containers, and cutting gardens.
Full Sun
Moderate
3-10
28in H x 12in W
Perennial
High
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What makes Strawberry Fields stand out is its exceptional performance as a cut flower, the blooms develop that rich, strawberry-red coloring that gives the variety its name, and they dry remarkably well for arrangements that last months. The compact, bushy growth habit means you get prolific flowering from a relatively small plant, making it ideal for gardeners who want maximum color impact without sprawl. Unlike many annuals that fade in midsummer heat, this gomphrena actually thrives in warm conditions and rewards frequent cutting with even more blooms.
Strawberry Fields Gomphrena is grown primarily as a cut flower and bedding plant. The flowers are harvested at peak color for fresh arrangements or allowed to fully mature on the plant for drying, then bundled and hung upside down to create long-lasting dried florals for winter arrangements and craft projects.
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last frost date. Sow into 72-cell flats or your preferred seedling container, covering seeds lightly with 1/8 inch of growing media. Maintain soil temperature around 60 to 65°F for germination. Harden off seedlings gradually before transplanting outside after all danger of frost has passed.
Transplant hardened-off seedlings outside after the last frost date. Space plants 6 inches apart with 12 inches between rows. Gomphrena is frost-hardy in zones 3 through 10, so once frost danger passes, plants can go directly into the garden.
Direct seeding is not recommended for Strawberry Fields Gomphrena; transplanting from indoor-started seedlings produces superior results.
For fresh cut flowers, harvest when the blooms are in full color but before they're completely open, this extends the vase life considerably. For dried flowers, wait until the blooms are completely open and fully mature on the plant, then cut the stems and hang them upside down in small clusters in a warm, dry location. Gomphrena flowers dry remarkably well and retain their color beautifully for months.
Cut flowers frequently and remove stems before the blooms fully open to encourage bushier growth and continuous flowering throughout the season. Regular cutting redirects the plant's energy toward producing more buds rather than seed development, extending your harvest window significantly.
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