How to Landscape With Amaranth

Overview

Amaranth is an annual featuring ball-shaped flower heads in bright shades including pink, lavender and white. The flowers last for weeks and are good for attracting butterflies to your yard; they also make an attractive addition to dried flower arrangements. The most common varieties grow one to two feet tall, though some of the more bush-like varieties grow four to six feet tall. With the right care and attention to planting times to avoid frost, amaranth can become a focal point of your yard.

Step 1

Select which variety of amaranth to add to the landscaping in your yard.

Step 2

Try to match the amaranth's color and size to the plants you already have in your landscape and the space available; don't plant a bushy variety if you only have a small area available.

Step 3

Start your amaranth seeds indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost if you live in a cold area. Consult the USDA Hardiness Zone Map to determine the date of the last frost in your area.

Step 4

Plant your amaranth seeds directly into the garden, or transplant your seedlings from indoors after the soil has started warming up in the spring and after the risk of frost has passed.

Step 5

Space your amaranth plants 10 to 14 inches apart or plant in clumps. Cover seeds with a light layer of soil if seeding directly into the ground.

Step 6

Add peat moss, ground bark or compost to the soil if it has a heavy texture; amaranth grows best in well-drained soil.

Step 7

Apply a general purpose fertilizer to your amaranth once or twice during the growing season.

Step 8

Apply insecticides or fungicides as needed, though amaranth generally has minimal insect or disease problems.