More Information
| Botanical Name |
Amaranthus cruentus |
| Seeds Per Pack |
100 |
| Life Cycle |
Annual |
| Min. Time to Germinate |
10 Days |
| Max. Time to Germinate |
15 Days |
| Depth to Sow Seeds |
1/16 in. |
| When to Sow |
Indoors 6-8 weeks before last spring frost, Outdoors after all danger of spring frost is past |
| Growing Height |
4-6 ft. (1.2-1.8 m) |
| Plant Spacing |
12-15 in. (30-38 cm) |
| Hardiness |
N/A |
| Sun Exposure |
Full Sun |
| Danger |
N/A |
| Bloom Color |
Fuchsia (Red-Purple), Magenta (Pink-Purple), Maroon (Purple-Brown), Scarlet (Dark Red) |
| Bloom Time |
Late Summer/Early Fall, Mid-Fall, Mid-Summer |
| Other Details |
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater, Flowers are good for cutting, Flowers are good for drying and preserving, Self-sows freely; deadhead if you do not want volunteer seedlings next season, This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds |
| Soil pH Requirements |
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic), 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral), 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline) |
| Propagation Methods |
From herbaceous stem cuttings, From seed; direct sow after last frost, From seed; germinate in a damp paper towel, From seed; sow indoors before last frost |
| Seed Collecting |
Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds, Collect seedhead/pod when flowers fade; allow to dry |
Hopi Red Dye was originally grown as a dye plant by the Hopi Nation, a Native American tribe of the Southwest. The Hopis use the deep-red flower bracts as a natural dye to color their world-renowned piki bread. The plant produces deep purple leaves, stunning burgundy flowers, and nutritious black seeds. Every life stage of the plant is edible, including the sprouts, micro-greens, baby greens, whole young plants, mature leaves, and seeds. It’s especially prized for its tender baby leaves that add bright color accents to salads.
