'SPIKE AMARANTH' (Amaranthus caudatus)

The 'spike amaranth' comes with 30 organically certified seeds per packet. This plant prefers full sun and rich garden soil and is highly adaptable to diverse growing conditions. Direct-seed in early spring. Barely cover seeds, tamp well and keep evenly moist until germination, which occurs in 1 to 3 weeks. Thin or transplant 2 feet apart.  The 'spike amaranth' takes 50 days to reach maturity. This annual is a flowering crimson and reaches up to 3 feet tall. 

Beloved by nearly every animal that comes across it, 'Spike Amaranth' has a complicated association with human nutrition and traditional medicine. This hardy annual produces prodigious amounts of seed that have used as a pseudocereal where it grows readily. The seed can be ground into a flour or used whole as a porridge. Nutritious when cooked, the raw seed is not nutritionally available to the human. The leaves and young shoots of Amaranth can be cooked as a leafy vegetable to good effect. The fresh inflorescence is used in floral design and can be dried for use in everlasting arrangements. The seed will often self-sow and in the right condition will provide years of reliable garden interest. Collected and dried, the seed heads can be a welcome winter food for birds when the snow covers most other seed.

Add a Champlain Peony Company gift card to make a great gardening gift!