Globe Amaranth
Gomphrena martiana
- Native to:
- Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Peru
Robert Elias Fries
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Amaranthaceae
- Genus:
- Gomphrena
- Species:
- Gomphrena martiana
- USDA Symbol:
- GOMA2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 60 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- white, pink, magenta
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Butterflies:Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes), Cabbage White (Pieris rapae), Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae), Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), Common Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus communis), Dun Skipper (Euphyes vestris), Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas), Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Pterourus glaucus), Field Skipper (Atalopedes campestris), Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus), Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), Horace's Duskywing (Gesta Evans), Least Skipper (Ancyloxypha numitor), Little Glassywing (Vernia verna), ⚠️Monarch (Danaus plexippus), Ocola Skipper (Panoquina ocola), Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Peck's Skipper (Polites coras), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Red-banded Hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops), Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus), Sleepy Orange (Abaeis nicippe), Southern Broken-Dash (Polites otho), Spicebush Swallowtail (Pterourus troilus), Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia), Zabulon Skipper (Poanes zabulon)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- butterflies, bees
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to arid regions, prefers open, sunny areas
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily with warmth (70-75°F). Light may improve germination rates.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI