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Publication #FPS-234

 

Gomphrena globosa Globe Amarantha1

Edward F. Gilman, Teresa Howe2

Introduction

Globe Amaranth produces small, globe-shaped flowers in shades of purple, pink, yellow or white (Fig. 1). The purple form is most common in retail nurseries. Most horticulturists utilize Globe Amaranth in a mass planting spacing them 12 to 18 inches apart. Others use them as small specimens in rock gardens or plant them in containers. They are also attractive planted in a row along a walk or patio as an edging plant. Flowers can be dried for indoor use if cut just before they are fully opened. The plant grows 18 inches tall, and prefers full sun, and a moderately dry soil. Globe Amaranth is resistant to heat and should not be over watered. It provides bright color to a garden or landscape where irrigation will be limited.

General Information

Scientific name: Gomphrena globosa
Pronunciation: gom-FREE-nuh gloe-BOE-suh
Common name(s): Globe Amaranth
Figure 1. 

Globe Amaranth


[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]
Family: Amaranthaceae
Plant type: annual
USDA hardiness zones: all zones (Fig. 2)
Planting month for zone 7: Jun; Jul; Aug
Planting month for zone 8: May; Jun; Jul; Aug; Sep
Planting month for zone 9: Apr; May; Jun; Jul; Aug; Sep
Figure 2. 

Shaded area represents potential lplanting range.


[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]
Origin: not native to North America
Uses: border; edging; mass planting

Availablity: generally available in many areas within its hardiness range

Description

Height: 1 to 2 feet
Spread: .5 to 1 feet
Plant habit: round
Plant density: dense
Growth rate: slow
Texture: medium

Foliage

Leaf arrangement: opposite/subopposite
Leaf type: simple
Leaf margin: entire
Leaf shape: oblong
Leaf venation: not applicable
Leaf type and persistence: not applicable
Leaf blade length: 2 to 4 inches
Leaf color: green
Fall color: not applicable
Fall characteristic: not applicable

Flower

Flower color: white; pink; purple; yellow
Flower characteristic: showy

Fruit

Fruit shape: no fruit
Fruit length: no fruit
Fruit cover: no fruit
Fruit color: not applicable
Fruit characteristic: inconspicuous and not showy

Trunk and Branches

Trunk/bark/branches: not applicable
Current year stem/twig color: green
Current year stem/twig thickness: medium

Culture

Light requirement: plant grows in full sun
Soil tolerances: acidic; sand; loam; clay;
Drought tolerance: moderate
Soil salt tolerances: unknown
Plant spacing: 12 to 18 inches

Other

Roots: not applicable
Winter interest: not applicable
Outstanding plant: not particularly outstanding
Invasive potential: not known to be invasive
Pest resistance: long-term health usually not affected by pests

Use and Management

Propagation is by seed planted directly into the garden or started early indoors.

Pest and Diseases

Globe Amaranth is free of most pest and disease problems.

Footnotes

1.

This document is FPS-234, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date October 1999. Revised May 2007. Reviewed June 2011. Visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2.

Edward F. Gilman, professor, Environmental Horticulture Department, Teresa Howe, coordinator - Research Programs/Services, Gulf Coast REC, Bradenton, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Nick T. Place, Dean.