All Red Leaf Amaranth is a warm-season annual that delivers stunning deep red foliage and genuine culinary versatility in a single plant. This open-pollinated variety of Amaranthus cruentus, also known as Red Ocean Amaranth, grows 24 to 36 inches tall and reaches harvest in 100 to 109 days, thriving across hardiness zones 3 through 11. The leaves develop that signature crimson color early and remain mild and tender enough to eat fresh or cooked, making it equally at home in a salad bowl or on the dinner table. From seed packet to kitchen, it's straightforward to grow, and its dual appeal as both a striking ornamental and serious edible vegetable makes it worth the space in any garden.
Full Sun
Moderate
3-11
36in H x ?in W
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Moderate
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The real draw here is the color and the speed. You'll have deep red leaves ready to harvest in just over three months, and unlike many ornamental amaranths, this one actually tastes good, robust but mild enough that even skeptics will eat it. It thrives in hot weather that might wilt other greens, and it's equally popular as a microgreen or a full-sized plant, which means you can harvest at whatever stage suits your needs. The open-pollinated genetics mean you can save seeds year after year if you want to.
The leaves are the star here. You can harvest them young for tender microgreens with a deep red color and mild flavor, toss mature leaves into salads for raw eating, or cook them down like any other leafy green, sautéed, steamed, or added to soups and stir-fries. The entire plant is edible, and because it tolerates heat so well, it fills the gap when lettuce and spinach bolt in summer.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Begin seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your final frost date, sowing into warm seed-starting mix. Maintain temperatures around 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit for reliable germination.
Transplant seedlings outdoors only after the final frost has passed and soil has warmed thoroughly, ideally when nighttime temperatures stay above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Harden off plants gradually over 7 to 10 days to prevent transplant shock. Space transplants 24 inches apart.
Direct sow seeds into warm soil after all frost danger has passed. Sow seeds shallowly and keep soil consistently moist until germination occurs.
Begin harvesting leaves once the plant is established and has developed several true leaves, typically around 50 to 60 days from planting. You can pick individual outer leaves as needed, allowing the plant to continue growing, or harvest the entire top of the plant for a flush of tender new growth. For microgreens, harvest when the first true leaves appear and the plant is just 2 to 3 inches tall. The deep red color intensifies as the plant matures, and leaves remain tender and mild throughout the growing season until frost arrives.
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“All Red Leaf Amaranth is a cultivar of Amaranthus cruentus, a species native to the tropical Americas with a long history of cultivation for both its leaves and its grain-like seeds. The Red Ocean name reflects its deep pigmentation and the plant's global spread through seed catalogs in recent decades. As an open-pollinated variety, it represents the kind of traditional seed stock that has been preserved and shared among home gardeners, appearing regularly in contemporary seed catalogs oriented toward both culinary and ornamental growers.”