Komo Amaranth is a striking Amaranthus cruentus variety with deep reddish-green foliage and the ability to reach an impressive 6 feet tall. Originally collected from the Hopi people of Lower Moenkopi, this plant serves double duty as both an ornamental showstopper and a nutrient-dense edible. The tender young leaves deliver a bright pinkish-red accent to fresh salads, while the flowers and stems unlock a centuries-old tradition of creating a natural scarlet dye for bread and tortillas.
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Moderate
2-11
72in H x ?in W
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High
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The Hopi have long treasured this amaranth for its ability to produce a vivid natural food dye that colors bread and traditional foods with a deep scarlet hue. The young leaves are tender and visually striking, lending a distinctive pinkish-red brightness to salads. At six feet tall with long, dark reddish-green foliage, it commands attention in the garden while remaining fully edible and steeped in indigenous agricultural heritage.
The tender young leaves shine raw in salads, where their pinkish-red hue adds both visual appeal and nutritional depth. The flowers, leaves, and stems can be soaked overnight in water to create a natural scarlet dye for coloring cornmeal bread and tortillas, following traditional Hopi preparation methods. Cooked greens also provide a nutrient-rich addition to soups and side dishes.
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Direct sow seeds outdoors after all danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed, typically in late spring. Plant seeds directly into garden soil in full sun.
Harvest tender young leaves throughout the growing season by pinching off the top 3 to 4 inches of new growth, which encourages bushier plants and continued leaf production. For dye production, harvest flowers, leaves, and stems once plants are well-established and mature. The best color develops as plants reach full height and flowers fully develop.
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“Komo Amaranth comes directly from Hopi agricultural tradition, originally collected in Lower Moenkopi, Arizona. The Hopi people have cultivated this variety for generations, using it not only as food but as a source of natural dyes for their bread and other traditional foods. Native Seeds/SEARCH, an organization dedicated to preserving crop diversity of the Southwest, acquired this variety for their Seed Bank Collection, ensuring that this culturally significant plant remains available to gardeners and farmers today. By growing Komo Amaranth, you're participating in the continuation of a living agricultural tradition.”