Love-Lies-Bleeding Amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus)
Also known as: Love-lies-bleeding · 10 sources cited · Verified
The short answer
- Plant
- Early April to early May
- Site
- soil pH 5.5–7.5
- Biggest risk
- Damping-off
In the UK, love-lies-bleeding amaranth go in the ground early April to early May.
Love-lies-bleeding amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus) — Annual.
Timing is the decision that matters most in the UK: there are 4 separate regional sowing windows, ranging from early April in southern England to mid April further north.
Core growing advice on this page is checked against named horticultural and university-extension sources — see References.
Regional Planting Calendar
| Region | Sow |
|---|---|
| Southern England | early April to early May |
| Midlands derived | early April to mid May |
| Northern England | mid April to mid May |
| Scotland | mid April to late May |
Rows marked derived are interpolated between regions our sources do state, because no source we consulted gives a figure for that region specifically. They are deliberately wider to reflect that uncertainty.
Southern England - detail & sources
RHS: sow in-situ in mid-spring. In southern England the frost-free window opens earliest -- Met Office notes the average last air frost in southern and coastal regions tends to occur before April ends, so sowing can begin close to the start of April and continue through to early May.
Midlands - detail & sources
DERIVED, NOT DIRECTLY SOURCED: no source states a Midlands-specific window. Interpolated a week later than southern England and a week earlier than northern England, following RHS's mid-spring in-situ sowing guidance and the Met Office's documented south-to-north frost gradient.
Northern England - detail & sources
RHS: sow in-situ in mid-spring. Met Office notes that further north the average last air frost often extends well into May, so sowing is pushed later than in the south to avoid frost damage to this frost-tender (H2) species.
Scotland - detail & sources
RHS: sow in-situ in mid-spring. Met Office notes that over higher ground and further north the average last air frost can extend into June in places, so Scotland gets the latest sowing window in the UK for this frost-tender (H2) species.
Quick Facts
| Factor | Value |
|---|---|
| Soil pH | 5.5 - 7.5 |
| Optimal growing temp | 21-28C |
| Minimum survivable temp | 0C |
| Soil texture | Chalk, clay, loam, sand (unfussy) |
| Drainage | Moist but well-drained, or well-drained |
| Lifecycle | Annual. |
| Edible parts | seeds, leaves |
At a Glance
Soil & Growing Conditions
Growth Stages
| Stage | Notes |
|---|---|
| Establishment | Propagate by seed sown in-situ mid-spring; thin to 60cm apart (RHS). |
| Vegetative Growth | Bushy, erect annual/biennial; large ovate leaves; reaches 1-1.5m height, 0.5-1m spread (RHS). |
| Flowering | Drooping, crimson, tassel-like racemes of tiny flowers in summer and autumn (RHS). |
| Fruit Development | Seed heads develop from the drooping racemes after flowering (RHS). |
| Ripening / Harvest | Flower spikes cut fresh or dried for arrangements as colour develops; seed heads left standing are eaten by birds (RHS). |
| Senescence / Dormancy | True annual/biennial in UK conditions; frost-tender (H2), does not survive freezing (RHS). |
Harvest & Storage
Diseases
Pests
What Love-Lies-Bleeding Looks Like, Season to Season
References
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Internal project document (unverified author/origin) - UK Crop Registry Research.md (internal prior research, row 110)
Tier 3. Cross-reference: this document instead names Amaranthus hypochondriacus for "Amaranth (Grain)" -- the other candidate for this common name
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Tier 1. "Optimal Temperature: 21 to 28C"
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Tier 1. "Soil pH: 5.5 to 7.5 (optimal)"
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Tier 1. Full sun to part shade, with best flowering in full sun; appreciates some afternoon shade in hot summer climates
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Tier 1. Moist, average, well-drained soils. Root rot may develop in poorly drained conditions
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Tier 1. Amaranthus caudatus L. -- accepted name, Plants of the World Online
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Tier 1. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy match, usageKey 6109611, status ACCEPTED
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Tier 1. In southern and coastal regions, the average last air frost tends to occur earlier in the spring, often before April comes to an end; further north and over higher ground it often extends well into May and, in a few places, even into June
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Tier 1. Full sun; chalk/clay/loam/sand; moist but well-drained or well-drained; H2 hardiness (1-5C); drought resistant; propagate by seed sown in-situ mid-spring; flowers used fresh or dried; seedheads attract birds.
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Tier 1. Amaranthus caudatus L. -- WFO accepted taxon record wfo-0000530136
10 independent sources are cited for this crop. Where they disagree - soil pH is the clearest case - every figure is preserved rather than averaged into false precision.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I sow love-lies-bleeding amaranth in the UK?
In southern England, from early April. In northern England and Scotland, wait until mid April. Treat these as a guide rather than a fixed date — the governing rule is to sow only once frost risk has passed and temperatures are reliably warm enough.
When do I sow love-lies-bleeding amaranth?
Sow early April to early May.
What soil pH do love-lies-bleeding amaranth need?
A pH of about 5.5–7.5. That span reflects genuine variation between the authorities we cite rather than a single agreed figure — the References section lists each source's exact range.
What problems affect love-lies-bleeding amaranth?
Our data links 1 disease and 1 pest to this crop. See the sections above for each one and how to manage it.
Plan next season before the problems start
Most of the advice on this page comes down to timing and spacing — sowing at the right moment, rotating beds, and giving plants enough airflow. The UK Garden Planner lays your plot out month by month so those decisions are already made before the season starts.
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Last verified 2026-07-27
Tools That Help With This Crop
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Plan the next step
Use the printable UK Vegetable Garden Planner to turn this guide into sowing dates, bed layouts, and weekly garden tasks.