Amaranthaceae
Love-Lies-Bleeding (Amaranthus caudatus)
Amaranthus caudatus
Love-lies-bleeding thrives in a hot, sunny spot with well-drained, moderately fertile soil. Sow seed after the last frost, keep young plants evenly moist while they establish, then let the soil dry between waterings once mature -- this species tolerates heat and short dry spells far better than soggy roots. Feed lightly once or twice during the growing season, stake tall cultivars in windy sites, and cut the long tassels for arrangements as they mature.
Every 4 days
Direct sun
7° - 38°C
% - %
Categories
What is Love-Lies-Bleeding?
Love-Lies-Bleeding (Amaranthus caudatus) is a easy-care plant from the Amaranthaceae family. Amaranthus caudatus is a fast-growing annual herb in the amaranth family (Amaranthaceae), prized for its long, rope-like tassels of tiny crimson-red flowers that cascade up to 60 cm (2 ft) from the top of the plant. Native to South America, most likely the Andean highlands, it has been cultivated fo...
Love-Lies-Bleeding grows up to 1.5m, spread of 100cm, watering every 4 days, 7°C – 38°C. It is not suitable for indoor environments and not safe for pets.
Unlike many tropical plants, Love-Lies-Bleeding tolerates watering mistakes. Best for beginners. Without precautions, ingestion can cause irritation in pets. Keep out of reach of cats and dogs.
How to Care for Love-Lies-Bleeding?
TLDR: Love-Lies-Bleeding needs Direct sun, watering every 4 days, and temperatures between 7-38°C with 40-70% humidity.
How Often Should You Water Love-Lies-Bleeding?
Water deeply once or twice a week, letting the top few centimetres of soil dry out between waterings; increase frequency only while seedlings are germinating or the plant is flowering and setting seed, and always avoid waterlogged soil, which quickly leads to root rot.
How Much Light Does Love-Lies-Bleeding Need?
Give it full sun -- at least 6 hours of direct light a day -- for the strongest color and longest tassels; in very hot climates a little afternoon shade prevents scorching, but deep shade will produce weak, leggy, poorly flowering plants.
What Is the Best Soil for Love-Lies-Bleeding?
Plant in fertile, well-drained soil with a pH between 5.5 and 7.5; the species tolerates acidic to alkaline conditions but resents heavy, compacted, or waterlogged clay, where the roots are prone to rotting.
What Pot Should You Use for Love-Lies-Bleeding?
Best grown in the open garden or in a large, deep container (at least 30-40 cm across) with generous drainage holes, since it develops a substantial taproot and resents sitting in wet compost.
Care Schedule
Fertilize
Every 75 days
What Is Love-Lies-Bleeding and Where Does It Come From?
Amaranthus caudatus is a fast-growing annual herb in the amaranth family (Amaranthaceae), prized for its long, rope-like tassels of tiny crimson-red flowers that cascade up to 60 cm (2 ft) from the top of the plant. Native to South America, most likely the Andean highlands, it has been cultivated for millennia both as an ornamental garden plant and as a grain and leaf crop -- its tiny seeds are one of the ancient "pseudocereals" still eaten today, and its young leaves are cooked as a nutritious green vegetable. The stiff, upright stems can reach 1 to 1.5 m tall and are clothed in oval, sometimes reddish-tinged leaves. In the garden it makes a dramatic, old-fashioned border or cutting-garden plant, equally at home in cottage borders and modern prairie-style plantings.
How to Propagate Love-Lies-Bleeding?
Direct sowing from seed
Amaranth seed is very fine, so mix it with sand before sowing for a more even spread, and avoid transplant shock by moving seedlings while still small.
- 1 Wait until all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed.
- 2 Scatter the tiny seeds thinly over prepared, well-drained soil and press in lightly without burying them, since they need light to germinate.
- 3 Keep the seedbed evenly moist until germination, which takes about one to two weeks.
- 4 Thin seedlings to roughly 30-60 cm apart once they have their first true leaves.
- 5 For an earlier start, sow indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost and transplant out after hardening off.
Materials needed:
How Big Does Love-Lies-Bleeding Grow?
TLDR: Love-Lies-Bleeding can reach up to 1.5m tall with Fast growth rate.
Max height
1.5m
Spread
1.0m
Growth rate
Fast
Foliage
Deciduous
Warning: Toxic Plant
This plant can be toxic if ingested. Keep out of reach of:
Plant Uses
Edible
Can be consumed
Ornamental
Great for decoration
Medicinal Uses
- Leaves and seeds traditionally used in folk medicine as an astringent to help stop minor bleeding
- Leaf infusions traditionally taken for digestive upset in some Andean and African folk traditions
Culinary Uses
- Young leaves cooked and eaten as a spinach-like green vegetable
- Tiny seeds harvested as a gluten-free pseudocereal, popped like popcorn or milled into flour
- Seeds added whole to soups, porridges, and baked goods
Is your plant showing symptoms?
Click on the symptom to discover possible causes:
What Diseases Commonly Affect Love-Lies-Bleeding?
TLDR: Love-Lies-Bleeding is susceptible to 11 known diseases. Monitor regularly for early detection.
Aphids
Aphids are small, soft-bodied, pear-shaped insects (1/16 to 1/8 inch long) that feed by sucking nutrient-rich sap from plants. They reproduce rapidly and can quickly weaken plants, causing distorted growth and transmitting plant viruses. Aphids come in various colors including green, black, red, yellow, brown, and gray. They secrete honeydew, a sticky substance that attracts ants and encourages sooty mold growth.
Caterpillars
Caterpillars are the larval stage of moths and butterflies that feed voraciously on plant foliage, stems, flowers, and fruits. Common species include cabbage loopers, tomato hornworms, armyworms, and cutworms. These pests can cause extensive damage by consuming large amounts of plant tissue in a short time. They vary in size from small (1/4 inch) to large (5 inches), with colors ranging from green to brown, often featuring stripes or spots. Caterpillars are highly mobile and can quickly spread throughout gardens, making them one of the most destructive common pests.
Leafminers
Leafminers are the larvae of various insects including flies, moths, sawflies, and beetles that tunnel between leaf surfaces, creating distinctive serpentine trails or blotchy patches. While primarily cosmetic, severe infestations can weaken plants by reducing photosynthesis capacity and making them susceptible to secondary infections.
Flea beetle damage
Flea beetles are small, jumping insects that feed on the leaves of many vegetable crops. They chew numerous small, circular holes, creating a characteristic 'shothole' appearance. While established plants can often tolerate the damage, young seedlings are highly susceptible and can be stunted or killed if the infestation is severe.
Meaning & Symbolism
In Victorian flower language, love-lies-bleeding symbolizes hopeless love and heartache -- its long, drooping crimson tassels were read as a visual metaphor for a bleeding, weeping heart. In parts of the Andes, by contrast, the closely related grain amaranths carry a more hopeful meaning, linked to fertility, sustenance, and resilience.
Fun Facts
The drooping flower spikes can grow over half a metre long and were traditionally dried for use in everlasting flower arrangements.
Its tiny seeds were a staple grain of the Aztec and Inca empires long before wheat or rice arrived in the Americas.
A single plant can produce tens of thousands of seeds, which is why amaranth self-sows so readily in the garden.
The species name "caudatus" is Latin for "tailed," a direct reference to its long, drooping flower tassels.
Frequently asked questions
Is Amaranthus caudatus toxic to pets?
How long does it take Amaranthus caudatus to flower?
Can I eat love-lies-bleeding?
Why are my Amaranthus caudatus leaves developing spots?
Does love-lies-bleeding need staking?
Compare with similar plants
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Field Maple | Easy | Bright indirect | 14d | ✓ |
| Silver Birch | Easy | Direct sun | 14d | ✓ |
| Common Blanketflower | Easy | Direct sun | 10d | ✓ |
| Cushion Bush | Easy | Direct sun | 14d | ✓ |
