Love Lies Bleeding

Family: Amaranthaceae Vegetable

Drape your garden in a living cascade of velvet—Love Lies Bleeding produces pendulous, ribbon-like amaranth plumes that glow in deep garnet to near-black burgundy as they mature.

The flowers carry a faint, earthy sweetness and a tender, grain-like bite; their texture is delightfully soft when young and pleasantly substantial as they dry. Grow this striking annual for bold, long-lasting color in the landscape and for harvest-ready seed heads that shine in dried arrangements and rustic blends.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 90 DaysHabit: Upright

Botanical illustration of Love Lies Bleeding

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Direct Sow
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 25th
Harvest Begins	Jul 24th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	90
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Upright
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	65
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

These pendulous plumes are best treated like a mild, earthy-grain garnish—soft when fresh, crunchy once dried—so you get texture without overpowering the dish. Harvest bright, young heads for succulence, then dry extra for that stubborn rustic crunch that holds up on hot food only at the finish.

Best Uses

young plumes as an edible garnish on salads and grain bowls
dry the seed heads and use them like rustic “crunch” over yogurt, porridge, or roasted squash
toast the seeds and fold into breads or granola for a nutty, grainy snap
use as a visually dramatic topping for soups and stews at the end so they don’t go soggy

Flavor Profile

faint earthy sweetness tender grain-like bite velvety, soft texture when young pleasantly substantial crunch when dried

Kitchen Pairings

honey goat cheese lemon black beans butter pumpkin

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my Amaranthus caudatus (love lies bleeding) plants getting sticky spots or black sooty growth on leaves, and what can I do?

This often points to aphids (they leave honeydew, which turns into black sooty mold). Spray plants with a strong jet of water to knock aphids off, then apply insecticidal soap or neem, covering leaf undersides, and repeat every 5–7 days until the sticky film stops. Avoid heavy nitrogen feeding, which encourages more aphid growth.

How often should I water love lies bleeding during active growth, and what soil moisture level should I maintain?

Keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy from emergence through canopy growth, which usually means watering when the top 1 inch of soil dries. During hot spells, this may be every 2–3 days in light soil, while heavier soils may need less frequent watering. Once plants are established, reduce frequency but water deeply so moisture reaches the root zone.

How do I tell when Amaranthus caudatus (love lies bleeding) is ready to harvest after about 90 days?

Harvest when the drooping flower plumes have turned fully colored (typically red/purple) and the seeds inside are maturing—plumes should feel light and brittle rather than soft and green. For grain, wait until a few plumes are dry and seeds easily rub loose; for cut flowers, harvest when plumes are fully developed but before they heavily shed. Cut in the morning for best freshness and immediately hang plumes in a warm, airy spot to finish drying if needed.