Red Amaranth
Amaranthus cruentus
- Native to:
- El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua
Kurt Stüber [1] (www.kurtstueber.de)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Amaranthaceae
- Genus:
- Amaranthus
- Species:
- Amaranthus cruentus
- USDA Symbol:
- AMCR4
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 200 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- red, purple, maroon
Wildlife Benefits
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★★☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
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)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, butterflies
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
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 3–14 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily in warm soil (65-75°F). Light may enhance germination; surface sow or barely cover seeds.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 20°C. Seed germinates within 3 months * protect from damping off