Amaranthus caudatus Coral Fountain | Love-Lies-Bleeding

Amaranthus caudatus Coral Fountain is a striking annual cut flower with long, cascading tassels in unusual dusty coral-pink tones. Its flowing flower heads create beautiful movement, texture and volume in bouquets, making Coral Fountain an excellent filler and statement flower for fresh and dried arrangements.

The plants are vigorous and heat tolerant, reaching approximately 100–110 cm in good growing conditions. Rich soil, full sun and consistent moisture encourage long stems and generous cascading flower heads. Coral Fountain is also particularly valuable for drying, as the flower spikes can retain their colour for a long time when carefully dried.

With approximately 65–75 days to maturity, it is a relatively fast-growing summer cut flower and an excellent choice for flower farms, cutting gardens and ornamental borders.

Plant Information

• Botanical Name: Amaranthus caudatus
• Variety: Coral Fountain
• Common Name: Love-Lies-Bleeding, Amaranth
• Family: Amaranthaceae
• Flower Colour: Dusty coral-pink
• Flower Type: Long, cascading tassels
• Life Cycle: Annual
• Plant Height: Approx. 100–110 cm
• Position: Full sun
• Use: Cut flower, filler, dried flower, garden
• Heat Tolerant: Yes
• Days to Maturity: Approx. 65–75 days
• Germination Temperature: Approx. 20–30°C
• Germination: Usually within 7 days under optimum conditions
• Light: Required for germination
• Seed Count: Approx. 2,000 seeds/g
• Pinching: Recommended for more branching
• Support: May be beneficial for large, heavily flowered plants

Coral-Pink Cascading Flowers

Coral Fountain is especially valued for its unusual colour. Instead of the traditional deep burgundy associated with Amaranthus caudatus, it produces soft dusty coral-pink tassels.

As the plants mature, the flower heads become longer and begin to cascade gracefully from the stems, creating the characteristic fountain-like appearance that gives the variety its name.

The unusual colour combines beautifully with apricot, peach, blush, cream, burgundy and muted pastel flowers, making it particularly versatile for contemporary floral design.

When to Sow

Start seeds indoors approximately 6–8 weeks before the last expected frost, or sow directly outdoors once the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed.

Amaranthus is a warm-season annual and should not be planted outdoors too early into cold soil.

For a longer harvest period, several successive sowings can be made during spring and early summer.

How to Sow Amaranthus Seeds

Amaranthus seeds are very small.

Sow onto the surface of a fine, moist and well-drained seed-starting substrate. Gently press the seeds into the surface to ensure good contact with the growing medium.

Do not bury deeply. The seeds require light for germination, so leave them uncovered or cover only extremely lightly with fine vermiculite.

Maintain approximately 20–30°C during germination and keep the substrate evenly moist but never waterlogged.

Under optimum conditions, germination is usually rapid and can occur within approximately 7 days.

After germination, provide plenty of light and good air circulation.

Pinching

For a bushier plant with more usable flowering stems, pinch out the central growing tip when the young plants are well established.

Pinching encourages side branching and produces multiple flowering stems rather than one dominant central stem.

Plants grown without pinching can produce fewer but larger and more dramatic flower heads, so the choice depends on how you intend to use the crop.

Harvesting for Cut Flowers

Harvest when the cascading flower heads are well developed and have reached a useful length, but before they become overly mature.

Cut strong stems during the cooler part of the day and place them immediately into clean water.

Coral Fountain works particularly well as a textural filler in bouquets, while larger stems can become a dramatic focal element in floral installations and arrangements.

Growing for Dried Flowers

Coral Fountain is also an excellent dried flower.

Harvest well-developed flower stems before they become excessively mature. Remove unnecessary foliage and hang the stems upside down in a dry, dark and well-ventilated place.

When carefully dried, the unusual coral-pink flower heads can retain their colour for an extended period.

Amaranthus caudatus Coral Fountain is an excellent choice for growers looking for a highly textural cut flower in an unusual soft coral-pink colour. Its cascading flower heads add movement and volume to bouquets while also providing beautiful material for dried floral work.