Marianne's Response
Is this Amaranth?
What are these plants? Are they Amaranth? The flower tendrils are not as fat and bushy as my garden book shows (see attached photo). The plant seems to reseed itself profusely, and that’s okay with me. For years I’ve been trying to rot out the ivy that covers most of this area, without success. But this plant seems to do it, it is reseeding itself right between the ivy, and thrivingâhallelujah! Is there a folk name to this plant?
Posted by on October 8, 2014
Marianne's Response
Thank you for including the photo. Yes, you have Amaranthus caudatus, the species or wild version of the ornamental amaranthus. The variety with the fat and bushy blooms are sometimes called Love Lies Bleeding or Chenille plant or Tassel flower. This edible plant can be eaten like spinach if you harvest the leaves when they are young and the seeds are an ancient grain high in protein. Enjoy this lovely volunteer.
Keep growing,
Marianne Binetti
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