AMARANTHUS or 'LOVE LIES BLEEDING'

Amaranthus is a beautiful soulful flower that comes in two styles either upright flower spike ( A. hypochondriacus) or long hanging tassels (A. caudatus), the latter of which that are ideal for drapping over stairwells or in churches. The main season for amaranthus is June to October. Amaranthus are not well-known as cut flowers in the UK, but have a very exotic appearance and have no rivals for looks. There are two main colours, a dark red and a lime green. The same colours are found in the upright varieties, though these reds can also have dark brown tints. There is a new bronze version too called "Hot Biscuits". Amaranthus hypochondriacus, known as Prince's Feather, is an Indian annual with deeply-veined, lance-shaped leaves, with bicoloured flowers of purple and crimson shades, densely packed on erect spikes, while A. caudatus (Love-lies-bleeding) is a native of Africa and Java, a vigorous hardy annual with dark purple flowers crowded in handsome drooping spikes. These have astringent qualities often used in cases of haemorrhages. A. spinosa and A. campestris are forms of amaranthus used in India as diuretics. A. oleraceus (Linn.) is used in India in cases of diarrhoea and menstrual disorders and the young leaves and shoots are also eaten as a vegetable. A. polygonoides, a common garden weed in India, is also used as a pot-herb and considered so wholesome that convalescents are given it in preference to all other kinds.

Related Flowers : Lilacs or Syringa Flowers Larkspurs Flowers Lilies / Lily Flowers Laurels Flowers Lily of the Valley Flowers Lilies Lily Flowers Limoniums or Statices Flowers Lotus lotuses Flowers Lisianthus or Eustomas Flowers Love in a Mist Flowers