Loves Lies Bleeding

Love-Lies-Bleeding is a spectacular bushy annual with large, almost tropical leaves, over and through which the familiar tassels cascade to the ground. Each of these fascinating crimson or purple tassels is a colony of tightly packed, tiny flowers and lasts for many weeks on the plant.

Watering plants well in dry weather, feeding regularly and supporting the heavily laden stems if necessary, all help to produce the longest tassels. This ever-popular annual is perhaps more versatile than you might imagine – good in the border, most effective as a cut flower in arrangements, and a good pot-plant.

The plants are surprisingly stable for such an apparently top heavy plant, however if grown in an open, more exposed situation, a bit of support will help you to enjoy this plant right through until autumn. Pinching out the center stem will encourage side branching. Water regularly and fertilise with a water soluble balanced fertiliser. At the end of the season leave a few plants to die down and self seed, others can be pulled up and composted.

The botanical name of Love-Lies-Bleeding derives from Greek and means ‘unfading flower’. This is an accurate description as the flowers are very long lasting cut flowers and they can be easily dried to extend the amount of time that you get to enjoy them. Amaranthus leaves may be eaten as a salad vegetable. In Africa, they are usually cooked as a leafy vegetable similar to spinach.

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