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Amaranth Elephant Head

sowngrow (8a) G

11 years ago

I grew this plant from seed and am now wondering if I should yank it out. I read it was brought over from Germany in the 1880's. I've converted to growing only natives the past few years. Opinions? TIA

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User

11 years ago

A friend of mine had amaranth planted in his garden a few years ago, some red variety. Every year since it comes up annually everywhere all over his yard because there is an empty lot next door and fences not well maintained so some plants always go to seed. It even comes up in the cracks in the middle of the street and his gravel driveway. I'd suspect any grain amaranth is likely to be an extremely aggressive seeder, especially in a reasonably moist part of the country if you don't harvest the seeds before they fall.

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Comments (8)

wantonamara Z8 CenTex
11 years ago
I thought amaranth was originally a south american and Mexican plant. I have a wild one that grows here in Texas called Pigweed. It is a large family. Maybe it is just a hybrid of a New World plant. Amaranth is a food staple in the Americas. American indians grew Amaranth. So do the Asians so maybe it is a world wide plant now.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/home_blog/2012/04/amaranth.html
sowngrow (8a) G
Original Author
11 years ago
Interesting! Thanks for sharing that article!
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WoodsTea 6a MO
11 years ago
Looks like a cultivar of Amaranthus tricolor. I can't find any information that suggests that it's particularly invasive, though it's definitely not native to North America.
sowngrow (8a) G
Original Author
11 years ago
I grew it last year and a few seeds flew into my horse pasture and sprouted this year. I know it's an ancient grain. I just don't want to grow an invasive species. Here's what I have-it's the elephant head variety. Amaranthus giganticus - sorry about the sideways pic.
wantonamara Z8 CenTex
11 years ago
I have not had a lot of problems with it but it is dry and unfriendly here most of the time.
wantonamara Z8 CenTex
11 years ago
It makes a lot of seed , but I imagine its aggressiveness is going to depend on your conditions. It only volunteers in my vegetable garden... where I want a few. It is nothing as bad as Lambs quarters. I think they make great compost builders.
sowngrow (8a) G
Original Author
11 years ago
I'm going to pull it before it goes to seed. Thanks everyone!

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