Amaranthus caudatus
amaranthus
A long velvety tassel that hangs rather than stands, and keeps its colour long after it dries. The name comes from the Greek for unfading, and it has meant exactly that for as long as anyone has written it down.
Native toThe Andes, from Ecuador to northern Argentina
In seasonYear-round
Vase life10 – 14 days, then dries and keeps
Pairs withBurgundy carnation · Eucalyptus · Red gerbera
Elsewhere
Amaranth is a staple grain across Mesoamerica and the Andes and was central to Aztec ritual before the Spanish suppressed its cultivation; it remains a food crop across India, Nepal and much of East Africa. The ornamental tassel and the grain are the same genus.