Globe Amaranth

Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena globosa)

Bachelor's Button, Gomphrena

Full sun; medium to dry moisture, well-drained; tolerates heat, humidity, and poor soils; pH 6.0–7.5.

12–24 inches tall, 10–18 inches wide; blooms June through frost with clover-like papery flower heads in magenta, pink, red, white, or orange; flowers retain color when dried; spreads by self-seeding.

Propagation: direct sow after last frost or start transplants indoors 4–6 weeks before transplanting; soaking seed overnight before sowing improves germination rate.

Native region: Not native to Tennessee; ornamental introduction from Central America.

One of the most reliably heat and humidity-tolerant annuals for Middle Tennessee summers, G. globosa does not flag or drop bloom during the July–August heat that stresses many other flowering annuals. The papery bracts resist rain damage and maintain color even in extended wet periods — a significant advantage in Columbia's humid climate. Flowers are excellent for cutting and air-drying; harvest stems when heads are fully colored but before centers begin to elongate. Spider mites can colonize plants during dry spells in August; overhead irrigation or insecticidal soap spray at first sign controls outbreaks before they spread. Compact cultivars (12–16 inches) hold up better through the season without staking than tall selections.