Amaranth Tailed

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Tailed amaranth (lat. Amaranthus caudatus) - a native of the tropics; attractive decorative culture, belonging to the genus Amaranth of the Amaranth family. South America and Africa are considered the birthplace of this amazing plant. However, in the wild, the plant is found everywhere, including Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, etc. The species belongs to the category of common, used by gardeners and florists for landscaping areas.

Characteristics of culture

The caudate amaranth is represented by annual herbaceous plants with erect, powerful stems, reaching a height of 1-1.5 m. The foliage of the species under consideration is rather large, purple-green, less often green, has an ovoid (often elongated) shape. The flowers are numerous, dark red or wine-colored, and yellowish specimens are also found.

The flowers, in turn, are collected in dense glomerular inflorescences, which make up complex panicles hanging under the weight of the glomeruli. The flowering of the caudate amaranth is observed from the beginning of summer to autumn (before the onset of frost). Throughout the growing season, the plant pleases with its decorative effect, which makes it popular.

Forms and varieties

Like other representatives of the genus, tailed amaranth is represented by several interesting forms that differ from each other in the color of flowers and foliage, the height and size of the inflorescences. Among the variety of forms, f can be noted. gibbosus, which boasts whorled buds that form a long string of beads. This form won popularity among gardeners for a reason, because those same beads look dignified and attractive, which means that they can rightfully take one of the dominant places in any flower garden.

Form f is also common among gardeners. atro-purpureus. It is represented by plants, the stem of which bears small red foliage and large red inflorescences composed of small flowers. By the way, this form of inflorescence is erect. It is impossible not to note the form, the plants of which form white or greenish-white flowers, it is called f. albiflorus. But among the green-flowered forms f is famous. viridis. It is grown both in gardens and in specialized establishments to create summer and winter bouquets and various crafts suitable for interior decoration.

Of the varieties, gardeners adhere to the Grunschwanz variety. It is characterized by plants that form large, dense inflorescences of a light green color. The Rotschwanz variety also takes place in Russian and European gardens. It boasts not too tall (about 60-75 cm), a powerful bush and dense red inflorescences. Both varieties are suitable for cultivation in Central Russia, however, the cold summer will not allow you to fully enjoy the beauty of the plant, since this type of amaranth loves warmth and sun.

Care actions

In general, representatives of the amaranth genus cannot be called overly whimsical plants. Caring for them is as easy as two or two. True, at the beginning of the growing season, young plants should be given a little more attention than, for example, during flowering. So, plants require regular, but moderate moisture. Lack of moisture is detrimental to amaranth, and first of all, insufficient moisture affects the decorative foliage, which will soon fall off.

The plants are negatively affected by the lack of fertilizing. By the way, amaranth needs very little of them - only twice a season. The first one at the time of planting, more precisely, when preparing the soil, you can use rotted organic matter and mineral fertilizers (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium), the second one - a couple or three weeks after planting with complex mineral fertilizers. Don't forget about weeding. The prevention of diseases and pests is encouraged, although the culture is extremely rarely affected.