Love-Lies-Bleeding

A dramatic annual with long, cascading tassels of deep crimson flowers that drape gracefully from tall, sturdy plants. Love-lies-bleeding is heat and drought tolerant once established, thriving in average to poor soil with minimal fuss. The striking rope-like flower clusters are stunning in fresh or dried arrangements.

Direct sow seeds after the last frost when soil is warm (65°F/18°C or above). Scatter seeds on prepared soil and press in lightly—seeds need light for germination. Keep moist until germination occurs in 10-14 days. Thin to 18-24 inches apart. For an earlier start, sow indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost at 70°F (21°C). Transplant carefully after hardening off, as amaranth resents root disturbance.

The Season Plate

Your Love-Lies-Bleeding Year

Composed for Zone 7 · typical seasons · frost passes Apr 2, returns Nov 1

Sow Love-Lies-Bleeding Apr – May, pick Jul – Oct. Set your climate below and every date on this plate re-times itself.

Sowing window

Apr – May

re-timed to your frost dates

Plant out

after Apr 2

once frost risk has passed

First picking

around Jun 24

≈ 70 days from sowing · 200-500g per plant

Composed for —ColdTemperateMildWarmUse my locationUsed once to set your season · only the zone is kept

Week-by-week Love-Lies-Bleeding reminders watering, feeding and pruning, timed to your dates

In the app

Frost alerts for your garden a warning before a cold night costs you the crop

In the app

Succession sowing dates so the picking never gaps mid-season

In the app

Prefer email? Get monthly reminders in the Almanac

Keep my dates — free for 7 daysWe nudge you as each window opens · cancel anytime

Love-lies-bleeding is a dramatic, fast-growing warm-season annual that commands attention with its long, cascading tassels of crimson flowers. Direct sow seeds after all danger of frost when soil has warmed to at least 65°F (18°C). Barely cover the tiny seeds, as they need some light to germinate. Thin seedlings to 18-24 inches apart.

Choose a sunny spot with average to poor soil—like many amaranth species, love-lies-bleeding performs best in lean conditions. Rich soil produces enormous, top-heavy plants prone to toppling. Water moderately during establishment but reduce once plants are growing vigorously. Established plants are remarkably drought and heat-tolerant.

The spectacular rope-like flower tassels can reach 18-24 inches long, cascading from the upper leaf axils. They appear in midsummer and persist until frost, gradually deepening in color as they mature. The plants can reach 3-5 feet tall depending on conditions. In windy locations, provide a sturdy stake—the heavy tassels act as sails in the wind.

Love-lies-bleeding creates dramatic vertical accents in cottage gardens and mixed borders. Plant alongside sunflowers, dahlias, and cannas for a bold, tropical-themed border. The crimson tassels contrast beautifully with golden rudbeckia and yellow marigolds. In the cutting garden, plant near zinnias, cosmos, and ornamental grasses for diverse arrangement material.

The Society Table

Sunflower belongs beside it.

Old growers' knowledge, checked against Love-Lies-Bleeding's real companion table below — test any plant you're growing.

Grows well in the company of · 3

SunflowerZinniaCosmos

Keep apart · 0

no recorded foes

Plant Love-Lies-Bleeding with good neighboursThe planner flags conflicts before they're in the ground

Love-lies-bleeding thrives in average to poor, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0-7.5. Avoid rich, heavily fertilized soil, which produces enormous plants that flop under their own weight. A single light application of balanced fertilizer at planting is more than adequate. In very poor soil, side-dress with compost once during the growing season. Container plants need a standard potting mix with no extra amendments.

Ideal Temperature

Hardiness Zone Compatibility

Cut love-lies-bleeding tassels for fresh arrangements when they have reached full length and color intensity. Cut stems long in the morning and condition in warm water for several hours. The cascading tassels create dramatic, gravity-defying displays in tall vases. For drying, cut tassels at peak color and hang upside down in a dark, warm, ventilated space for 2-3 weeks. Dried tassels maintain shape well but may shed small seeds.

Storage & Preservation

Love-lies-bleeding dries beautifully, maintaining its cascading form and deep red color. Hang in small bunches upside down for 2-3 weeks. Preserved tassels are stunning in autumn wreaths and dried arrangements. The tiny, protein-rich seeds can be collected by shaking dried flower tassels over a sheet—amaranth grain has been cultivated as a food crop for millennia. Store seeds for planting in labeled envelopes in a cool, dry place.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

Top-heavy plants toppling is the most common issue—lean soil and staking prevent this. Self-sowing can be aggressive in mild climates; remove spent tassels before seeds drop if this is a concern. In very rich soil, plants may reach 5-6 feet with excessive foliage and relatively small tassels. The tiny seeds scatter prolifically when tassels are disturbed, making cleanup challenging.

Growing Tips

1. Surface-sow seeds onto fine, moist soil and press gently without covering. Love-lies-bleeding seeds are tiny and need light to germinate — burying them even 5 mm deep can reduce germination by 70% or more. Mist with a spray bottle daily until seedlings emerge.
2. Wait until soil temperatures are consistently above 18°C (65°F) before sowing or transplanting outdoors. Love-lies-bleeding is a tropical plant that does not tolerate cold soil, and premature planting leads to stunted seedlings that never fully recover.
3. Space plants 30-45 cm apart to give the cascading tassels room to develop their full dramatic effect. Crowded plants produce shorter, less impressive tassels and are more susceptible to powdery mildew from poor air circulation.
4. Stake or cage tall plants in exposed locations, especially once the heavy flower tassels develop. A loaded tassel can weigh enough to topple plants in strong wind or heavy rain. Use sturdy stakes and soft ties to avoid damaging the stems.
5. Harvest leaves consistently from the outer parts of the plant during the vegetative stage to encourage bushier growth and delay flowering. Once flower tassels begin forming, leaf quality declines as the plant redirects energy toward reproduction.
6. For the most vivid tassel color, grow plants in full sun with at least 8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Partial shade produces acceptable growth but significantly paler tassel color, diminishing the ornamental impact.
7. To dry tassels for flower arrangements, cut them when color is at peak intensity but before seeds begin to shatter. Hang stems upside down in small bundles in a warm, dark, well-ventilated space for 2-3 weeks. Spraying with unscented hairspray after drying helps preserve the tassels.
8. Control self-sowing by cutting tassels before seeds mature and shatter, or by mulching heavily around the base of plants in autumn to smother fallen seeds. If you welcome volunteers, allow a few tassels to drop seed naturally near the parent plant.
9. Grow love-lies-bleeding in large containers (at least 30 cm diameter and 40 cm deep) on patios or balconies where the cascading tassels create a spectacular hanging display. Use a rich potting mix and water daily during hot weather, as container plants dry out quickly.
10. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers once flower tassels begin forming. Excess nitrogen at this stage promotes leafy growth at the expense of tassel length and color. Switch to a phosphorus-rich feed or simply stop fertilizing once you see the first flower buds.