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AMARANTHUS - "Amaranth" - Hardy and Half Hardy Annuals
Author: Charles Henry Curtis
AMARANTHUS - "Amaranth" Described.
AMARANTHUS - "Amaranth" -
AMARANTHUS - "Amaranth" - Although one or two species of Amaranthus (Amarantacea;) are sometimes described as Hardy Annuals, it is a much better plan to consider them all as Half-hardy. Most of the species are found in India, but others come from the Bahamas, Japan, the Philippines, and the East Indies. Individually the flowers are quite small, but they are produced in enormous quantities in velvety, tassel-like spikes or clusters, these often being much branched and semi pendulous or even quite so. They are striking and interesting plants, though not showy, and their vigorous growth makes them serviceable for large beds and borders. The flowers are purple, red, or crimson. But it is as foliage plants that Amaranthuses are most valuable, the colour of the leafage being very effective in many of the varieties.
March is quite early enough for seed-sowing, and if a temperature of about 65° can be provided germination soon takes place and the seedlings make rapid progress. Very early sowing is not desirable unless there is an abundance of room for the plants to remain under glass until the middle of May, when they may be placed out-of-doors in a sheltered place preparatory to planting at the end of the month or early in June. Choose a sunny spot and plant in groups.
AMARANTHUS - "Amaranth"
The best sorts are A. bicolor, 2 feet, green and yellow leaves; and the variety ruber,1.5 foot, crimson, green, and purple leaves; A. caudatus, the well-known Love-lies Bleeding, 2 feet to 3 feet, large, drooping spikes of purplish flowers; A. Hetideri, 3 feet, leaves carmine-red, orange, and olive-green; A. Jiypochondriacus, 2 feet to 4 feet, flowers deep crimson, leaves purple underneath; A. melanckolicus, 1.5 foot, crimson leaves and flowers; A. salicifolius, 3 feet, leaves long and wavy, orange and bronze , A. s. Princess of Wales, 3 feet, leaves orange, green, and yellow; A. sanguineus, 3 feet, flowers purple and leaves blood red; A. speciosus (syn. A. paniadatus), crimson-purple flowers and red-shaded leaves; A. tricolor, 1.5 foot, leaves purple-red, yellow, and green. A. t. splendens 2 feet, a very beautiful plant, and as its leaves are coloured crimson, scarlet, orange-yellow, and green, the name of Joseph's Coat has been given it.
All the taller-growing and bright-leaved Amaranthuses are valuable for sub-tropical effects in the garden.
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