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Amaranthus hypochondriacus is often confused with:
Amaranthus retroflexus Amaranthus retroflexus
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Cattleya Pair of classic purple corsage orchids with frilly dark lip
Pilea nummulariifolia Leaves
Smilax glauca Smilax glauca
Amaranthus hypochondriacus has some common insect problems:
Aphids Found on Flowers and Foliage

Red Cocks Comb Amaranthus hypochondriacus

Phonetic Spelling
am-uh-RANTH-us hy-po-kon-dree-AH-kus
Description

Amaranthus hypochondriacus, or Prince's Feather, is an herbaceous annual or short-lived perennial plant with showy feathery red flowers often grown as a ornamental. It is commonly viewed as a weed on wasteland as well as on agricultural land. Amaranthus is monoecious (meaning individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant). It is pollinated by wind.

Prince's Feather prefers well-drained fertile soil in full sun. It is often cultivated, especially in tropical areas, for its edible leaves and seeds, though it is less often seen in northern climates because it is late maturing.The plant tends to have a clumping habit.

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:

Aphids may be a problem. Amaranthus are not poisonous, but when grown on nitrogen-rich soils they can concentrate nitrates in the leaves. Nitrates are implicated in stomach cancers, blue babies and other health problems. It is inadvisable, therefore, to eat this plant if it is grown on land where chemical fertilizers are used.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Green Thumb'
    Bushy upright annual with large, oblong, purple leaves and erect, plume-like, bright yellow-green flowers.
'Green Thumb'
Tags:
#colorful#nitrogen fixation#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#weed
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Green Thumb'
    Bushy upright annual with large, oblong, purple leaves and erect, plume-like, bright yellow-green flowers.
'Green Thumb'
Tags:
#colorful#nitrogen fixation#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#weed
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Amaranthus
    Species:
    hypochondriacus
    Family:
    Amaranthaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Root Cutting
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Central United States, Mexico
    Distribution:
    Central and Southern North America.
    Wildlife Value:
    Attracts beetles.
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Edibility:
    Young leaves have a mild flavor when cooked like a spinach. The seed can be eaten raw or cooked or used as a cereal substitute. They can also be popped like popcorn. Avoid ingesting if grown on land where chemical fertilizers are used.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Multi-stemmed
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Coarse
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    White
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Description:
    Seeds can be white, ivory, pinkish white, or black to dark reddish brown, subglobose to lenticular, tiny, smooth, and shiny.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Red/Burgundy
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Catkin
    Spike
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Good Cut
    Good Dried
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Flowers appear in dense, erect or pendulous, catkin-like inflorescences in summer and autumn. Predominantly terminal, often with few spikes at distal axils stiff, erect, dark red, purple, or deep beet-red, less commonly yellowish or greenish, leafless at least in distal part, usually robust.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Ovate
    Rhomboidal
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Petiole of distal leaves equaling or slightly shorter than blade, becoming longer proximally; blade rhombic-ovate to broadly lanceolate 1 1/2 to 4 inches long by 2 inches wide, larger in robust plants.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Usually erect, green or reddish purple, branched, mainly in inflorescences.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Patio
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Cottage Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Border
    Attracts:
    Butterflies