Gomphrena haageana Orange seeds - Rio Grande globe amaranth

The Orange Amaranth, Latin name Gomphrena haageana, also known as the Rio Grande Amaranth or Scarlet Gomphrena, is a lovely annual with summer flowering, featuring flowers resembling small strawberries. This rare cultivar offers scarlet orange flowers while other amaranths are usually red, pink, or white. The flowers are borne on tall, sturdy stems of 75 cm, ideal for creating bouquets from July to September, and they can extend the season when dried.

Gomphrena haageana belongs to the Amaranthaceae or Chenopodiaceae family. It originates from Mexico, where it grows on rocky slopes between 1200 and 1500 m. It is less common than Gomphrena globosa. This tall Amaranth is best placed in the middle of a border. Due to its habit, its effect will be more pronounced when planted in groups. Each plant has multiple, upright stems, each bearing a single, globular flower at the top. The lanceolate, elongated leaves are rather small (5 cm) and attached close to the stem (sessile). The vibrant colour, set off by green foliage with a slightly bluish, almost greyish tinge, will naturally fit into a mix of various colours but can also brighten up a neutral background. The Central American Amaranth prefers a sunny exposure.

Architectural in form, the amaranth is a plant to scatter among other annuals or perennials. Its numerous round heads create unity in a diverse border. Pair them with cosmos, lavenders, or daisies, for example. Alternatively, plant them en masse while varying the colours. They also make attractive vegetable garden flowers, attracting pollinator insects, especially butterflies.

Like some of its relatives in the Amaranthaceae family, you can use it in dried arrangements. Amaranthus means: "that does not wither" in Greek. To keep them looking their best, cut them as soon as the flowers appear and start to colour; this way, they will maintain their evocative shape and colour.

This "strawberry field," variety thrives just as well in the garden, in containers on a terrace, or even indoors, in fresh or dried bouquets.