Common Globe Amaranth Gomphrena globosa Play pronunciation

Globe amaranth is a tropical flowering, summer annual native to Central and South America. It grows 0.5 to 2 feet tall and 0.5 to 1 foot wide, with a dense, compact habit. It produces globe-shaped or clover-like flower heads in shades of pink, purple, or white with paper-like bracts. The flowers are borne on upright stems, and the leaves are green, narrow, oblong to elliptical, and up to 4 inches long. The blooms attract pollinators including bees, butterflies, and other insects. Its flowers retain color well, and they can be dried at the end of the summer and used in floral arrangements. Globe amaranth is a member of the amaranth family (Amaranthaceae). The genus name Gomphrena is Latin and named for a type of amaranth. The specific epithet globosa means round and refers to the shape of its flowers.

Thrives in full sun and moist, well-drained, fertile, acidic soil. It is drought-tolerant once it is established. It is also heat-tolerant, dry-soil-tolerant, and clay-soil-tolerant, with the added benefit that deer are not fond of this plant. This plant is low maintenance and easy to grow. It is winter hardy in zones 9 through 11, where it can be grown as a perennial. As an annual, globe amaranth may be grown in zones 2 to 11. The germination rate of this annual can be low; therefore, it is best to be generous when sowing seeds. The seeds may be sown directly or started earlier indoors, about 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost.

Globe amaranth is grown for its charming flowers; it is often used in flower beds or borders, cutting gardens, cottage gardens, on patios, and in containers. It can be planted anywhere in North Carolina as an annual.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  No significant insect or disease problems. Cultivars may be susceptible to gray mold, root rot, stem rot, powdery mildew, and leaf spots.