Amaranth 'Love Lies Bleeding' Seeds

Few annuals make an entrance like Love Lies Bleeding: rope-like crimson tassels that hang almost to the ground from midsummer until the frosts. Amaranthus caudatus is a bold, bushy plant with broad, pale green leaves and drooping chenille tails that bring height and drama to borders and big pots. Cut the tassels for arrangements, fresh or hung upside down to dry. Left on the plant, the seed heads feed finches and other seed-eating birds into autumn.

Sowing and growing

• Sow indoors March to April at around 20°C, or outdoors where it is to flower in late May once the soil is warm.
• Sow very shallowly and barely cover, as light helps germination.
• Germination usually takes 7 to 15 days.
• Plant out after the last frost, 45 to 60 cm apart, in a sunny, sheltered spot with fertile soil. Water freely in dry spells.
• Grows to about 90 cm to 1.2 m tall and 60 cm wide; pinch out the tips of young plants for bushier growth.
• Flowers July until the first frosts.
• Half-hardy annual: it will not survive frost.

What you receive: a packet of about 150 seeds from Piccolo Seeds, with growing instructions on the back.

Browse our full range of flower, herb and vegetable seeds, find more summer-flowering plants, or start your sowings with our propagators and seed trays.