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How to Care for Joseph's Coat

Delightful yellow and red leaves of a Joseph's coat (Amaranthus tricolor) plant.
David J. Stang, CC SA-4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Joseph's coat (‌Amaranthus tricolor‌) is an annual plant native to Asia. Ornamental cultivars of this plant are grown for their foliage, which features bold combinations of yellow, red and pink.

It can be used as borders and mass plantings but also makes a statement as a specimen. All parts of this tropical plant are edible, and some cultivars have green foliage that is consumed as a vegetable in some Asian cuisines.

Joseph's Coat Identification

Joseph's coat plants are bushy and have a height between 1 and 4 feet. Individual leaves may be anywhere between 3 and 6 inches in length, with widths between 2 and 4 inches.

Many Joseph's coat cultivars require staking to stand upright, though certain compact cultivars, such as ‘Pigmy Touch’ and ‘Green Thumb,' are compact enough that they don't need staking.

The leaves of the species Joseph's coat plant, which is also known as tampala, feature a combination of green and purple. In some parts of the world, species Joseph's coat plants are consumed as vegetables.

However, you'll find many cultivars with foliage that is variegated with shades of red, pink and yellow, including Splendens and Early Splendor. Joseph's coat flowers may be green or red; however, they are small and not showy.

Tip

Joseph's coat plants are tender annuals that cannot withstand freezing temperatures and survive for just one growing season. But in the fall, you can collect seeds to sow again in the spring.

Joseph's Coat Plant Temperature Needs

Like many annuals, Joseph's coat plants are typically grown from seed. It is a tender annual though, meaning it cannot withstand freezing temperatures.

Joseph's coat seeds germinate best when planted in soils with temperatures at or above 68°F. As a tropical species, this plant performs best when it develops at temperatures between 70 and 85°F.

Depending on the climate where you live, if you want to get a head start on growing Joseph's coat, you may opt to start the seeds indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost of spring.

Joseph's coat (Amaranthus tricolor) near the Notre Dame cathedral.
Tangopaso, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

How to Plant Joseph's Coat

Joseph's coat plants can grow in a wide variety of soils as long as they offer proper drainage. When planting the seeds, allow 8 to 12 inches between small specimens and approximately 18 inches between larger cultivars.

Joseph's coat plants grow best when they receive full sun, which is equivalent to six or more hours of sunlight a day. This brings out the colors in the leaves. Shade in the afternoon during the hot summer months is recommended, however.

As annuals, Joseph's coat plants survive for just one growing season. In the fall, you can collect seeds from your plants to sow again in the spring.

Joseph's Coat Care

  • Avoid Overwatering:‌ Joseph's coat plants are low maintenance and can handle dry conditions, so be sure not to overwater the plant, which can lead to root rot.
  • Fertilizer Guidelines:‌ Joseph's coat plants can grow in very poor soil. Therefore, these plants do not need a lot of fertilizer. In fact, excessive fertilizer can diminish the color of the plant's foliage. Nitrogen fertilizer should be avoided when growing species Joseph's coat plants as vegetables, as this can result in nitrate levels building up in the leaves.

  • Pinching to Promote Growth:‌ Pruning, or pinching, the flowers of the Joseph's coat plant can help promote bushy growth and enhance the plant's appearance.

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