Amaranthus caudatus Mira seeds - Love-lies-bleeding

Love-Lies-Bleeding 'Mira' is captivating with its trailing inflorescences blending shades of sage green, powdery pink, and purple. This annual plant thrives in well-drained soil and full sun. Its growth is rapid, and it offers a spectacular flowering throughout the summer. Whether in the ground or in a pot on a terrace, its long colourful panicles are equally suited to naturalistic scenes and dried or fresh bouquets.

The 'Mira' amaranth is an ornamental variety belonging to the Amaranthaceae family. The wild species, Amaranthus caudatus, is an annual plant native to the tropical regions of South America, particularly the high Peruvian Andes. It is known there as "kiwicha" and has been cultivated for millennia for its nutritious seeds. Introduced to Europe in the 16th century, it is now prized for its aesthetic qualities.

Amaranthus caudatus 'Mira' is an annual plant. It completes its entire life cycle in a single season from germination to flowering, through to seed production, before disappearing with the onset of cold weather. This 'Mira' cultivar is characterised by its pendulous green and pink inflorescences. These long panicles can reach 60 to 90 cm in length. The plant itself reaches a height of 1.20 m to 1.50 m in the ground, with a spread of 45 to 60 cm. In a pot, its growth is more contained, with an average height of 75 cm. The foliage consists of large, ovate to lanceolate, medium to dark green leaves arranged alternately along the sturdy stems. The green to reddish stems are upright and may require staking to support the weight of the inflorescences. Flowering extends from June to October, depending on climatic conditions and the sowing date. The flowers are tiny and densely clustered in pendulous panicles and are primarily pollinated by the wind (anemophily), although insects may also contribute. The fruits are small capsules containing shiny black seeds. The root system is a taproot, with a deep main root and extensive secondary roots, giving the plant good drought resistance.

Love-Lies-Bleeding 'Mira' is an eye-catching plant with a strong, somewhat theatrical appearance. In borders, it makes a bold statement alongside more subdued perennials, such as coneflowers or daisies, which it enhances by contrast. On a terrace, it plays the role of a sculptural and elegant summer bush, in large pots where its trailing habit works well. Planted in groups of three to five specimens amidst a carpet of ground cover like Ceratostigma plumbaginoides or lamb's ears (Stachys bysantina), it creates a scene of beautiful visual intensity.

In Andean traditions, amaranth was considered a sacred plant, used in religious rituals and symbolising eternal life due to the longevity of its seeds. This symbolism has endured through the centuries, and even today, amaranth is associated with perseverance and resilience in the language of flowers.