Love-Lies-Bleeding (Amaranthus caudatus) - How to Grow & Care Guide

Plant Snapshot

Common Name: Love-Lies-Bleeding
Latin Name: Amaranthus caudatus
Hardiness Zones: USDA zones 2–11 as an annual; frost tender and will not overwinter in cold climates
Typical Height: 3–8 ft (90–240 cm)
Typical Spread: 1–2 ft (30–60 cm)
Bloom Period: Summer to fall
Soil Preferences: Fertile, well drained to moist soil. Tolerates poorer soils and some drought once established. Avoid waterlogged conditions which reduce vigor.
Light Preferences: Full sun for best flowering. Tolerates light afternoon shade in hot climates but blooms less in heavy shade.
Toxicity: Not generally considered highly toxic and leaves and seeds are used as food. Leaves may contain oxalates and nitrates and could cause mild gastrointestinal upset in pets or people. Confirm with local poison control for pet safety.
Propagation: By seed. Direct sow outdoors after last frost or start indoors and transplant. Plants readily self-seed.

Key Facts

Tender annual grown for long drooping flower tassels
Often grown as an ornamental and for its edible seeds and leaves
Performs best in full sun
Prefers fertile, well drained to moist soils but tolerates poorer soils
Flowers appear from mid summer into fall in most climates
Typically started from seed and readily self-seeds
May produce tall, erect stems that bear pendant flower clusters

Love-Lies-Bleeding (Amaranthus caudatus) is a tender annual prized for long drooping tassel flowers and edible seeds and leaves. It creates a dramatic vertical accent in borders or cutting gardens while readily self-seeding and not surviving frost in cold climates.

Identification

Plants form tall erect stems that bear long pendant tassel flowers in red, burgundy or green tones. Typical mature height ranges from 3 to 8 feet with a narrow spread around 1 to 2 feet. Flowers appear from mid summer into fall where the season is long enough and are immediately recognizable by their ropelike, drooping clusters.

Best uses and where to grow

Use Love-Lies-Bleeding as a bold background in mixed borders, as a cutting garden specimen, or where a dramatic vertical accent is desired. It performs best in full sun and prefers fertile, well drained to moist soils, though it tolerates poorer ground once established. The plant is both ornamental and edible, with leaves and seeds used as food.

Planting and timing

Propagate by seed, either sown directly after the last spring frost or started indoors and transplanted when warm. Treated as an annual across USDA zones, it is frost tender and will not overwinter in cold climates. Expect blooms from summer into fall depending on local frost dates and season length.

Spacing and soil

Space plants roughly 12 to 24 inches apart to allow the upright clumps to develop without crowding. Plant in fertile, well drained to moist soil; higher soil fertility improves flowering and seed set. Avoid waterlogged conditions which reduce vigor and increase risk of root decline.

Watering and feeding

Keep soil evenly moist while plants establish, then reduce frequency; mature plants tolerate some drought. Heavy watering or poor drainage leads to reduced vigor and fewer flowers, while a balanced fertility regime supports robust tassel production and better seed development.

After flowering and seed saving

Allow flower tassels to mature and dry on the plant if you plan to save seed, or cut and dry seed heads indoors. Collected seed can be stored and sown the following spring. Alternatively leave spent flowers to self-seed if you want naturalizing volunteers the next season.

Controlling self-seeding

Plants readily self-seed and may naturalize in warmer areas. Prevent unwanted volunteers by deadheading before seeds mature or by pulling seedlings when young. Where you want a sustained display, remove spent tassels to concentrate the plants energy on flowering rather than seed production.

Frequently asked questions

How fast does Love-Lies-Bleeding grow?: Growth rate varies with cultivar and conditions, but plants commonly reach between 3 and 8 feet during a single season when given full sun and fertile soil.
Is Love-Lies-Bleeding edible?: Yes. Leaves and seeds of many Amaranthus are used as vegetables and grain, though leaves can contain oxalates and nitrates and may cause mild upset in sensitive individuals or pets.
Will it come back after winter?: No. It is treated as a frost tender annual and will not reliably overwinter in cold climates; it persists between seasons mainly by self-seeding.
Can I grow it in containers?: Yes. Containers in full sun with fertile, well drained potting mix work for specimen plants, but select a large pot to support the plants height and root volume.
Is it invasive?: It is not classed as a major invasive species here, but it readily self-seeds and can naturalize in warm regions if volunteers are left unchecked.
How do I prevent it from taking over?: Deadhead before seeds ripen or remove young seedlings to control spread. Regular removal of spent flower heads stops most volunteer populations.