Red Amaranth

Amaranthus cruentus

Red Amaranth

Kurt Stüber [1]

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Amaranthaceae
Genus:
Amaranthus
Species:
Amaranthus cruentus

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Annual
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb
Height:
6-8 ft
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Bloom Months:
jul, oct
Bloom Colors:
purple, red

Native Range

United States: Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Canada: British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec

Host Plant for Caterpillars

beet webworm moth (Spoladea recurvalis), Coleophora amaranthella, Coleophora lineapulvella, Loxostege sp., Paralobesia sp., Scythris trivinctella, Southern armyworm (Spodoptera eridania), spotted beet webworm moth (Hymenia perspectalis), stalk borer moth (Papaipema nebris)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rich, well-drained loamy soil
pH:
6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
native to tropical regions with fertile soils