Gomphrena haageana QIS® Orange | Rio Grande Globe Amaranth | Cut Flower

Gomphrena haageana QIS® Orange is a professional cut-flower variety producing vivid orange, globe-shaped blooms on strong, long stems. Part of the QIS® (Quality in Seed) series, it is especially valued for its uniform growth, good stem quality and outstanding performance for both fresh and dried flowers. The breeder specifically recommends the QIS series for professional greenhouse and outdoor cut-flower production.

The intense orange colour is particularly striking in summer and autumn bouquets, combining beautifully with apricot, peach, cream, burgundy, bronze and warm seasonal foliage.

Plant Information

• Botanical Name: Gomphrena haageana
• Series: QIS®
• Variety: Orange
• Common Name: Rio Grande Globe Amaranth
• Family: Amaranthaceae
• Flower Colour: Vivid orange
• Life Cycle: Tender annual
• Plant Habit: Upright
• Plant Height: approx. 61–66 cm
• Plant Width: approx. 20–25 cm
• Stem Length: approx. 61–66 cm
• Flower Size: approx. 3.8 cm
• Exposure: Full sun
• Use: Fresh and dried cut flowers, garden planting
• Plug Crop Time: 5–6 weeks
• Days To Maturity: 85 - 100 days
• Transplant to Finish: approx. 10–12 weeks
• Seed Type: Raw seed
• Support: Generally not required

The official QIS® grower guide specifies approximately 61–66 cm stems, a 5–6 week plug crop and around 10–12 weeks from transplant to finish. 

Vivid Orange Flowers for Cutting

QIS® Orange produces distinctive rounded orange flower heads on long upright stems. The intense warm colour makes it an excellent choice for summer bouquets and particularly beautiful for late-summer and autumn arrangements.

The flowers add both colour and texture without overwhelming other focal flowers, making Gomphrena especially useful as a filler and textural cut flower.

The flowers retain their shape and colour exceptionally well when dried, so the same crop can be used for both fresh bouquets and everlasting dried arrangements.

QIS® – Quality in Seed

The QIS® series was developed with professional cut-flower production in mind. It combines uniform plants, good-quality stems and vivid colours suitable for both greenhouse and field production.

QIS® Orange offers:

Vivid orange flowers • Long stems • Uniform growth • Excellent bouquet texture • Fresh and dried use • Professional cut-flower quality • Heat-loving plants

The official grower information describes QIS® Gomphrena as a first-class professional cut flower suitable for both fresh and dried use.

How to Sow Gomphrena Seeds

Sow indoors into plug trays approximately 5–6 weeks before planting out.

Use a fine, well-drained seed-starting substrate and sow 1 seed per cell.

Unlike some very small flower seeds, QIS® Gomphrena seed should be covered after sowing.

For the initial germination stage, maintain approximately 20–22°C and consistent moisture. Under suitable conditions, germination progresses quickly; the professional production guide gives 2–3 days from 50% to maximum germination.

After germination, gradually reduce temperatures as the seedlings develop while providing plenty of light.

Planting Out

Gomphrena loves warmth and full sun and does not tolerate frost. Plant outdoors only once the risk of frost has passed and conditions have warmed.

Choose a sunny position with loose, well-drained soil. Avoid excessively rich soil and overfeeding, which can encourage softer vegetative growth instead of strong flowering stems.

For garden production, plants can be spaced approximately 13–15 cm apart when grown intensively for cutting.

The QIS® production guide indicates that support is generally not required for field-grown plants.

Growing for Cut Flowers

QIS® Orange performs particularly well during warm, sunny summer conditions.

Maintain regular moisture while plants establish, but avoid constantly wet soil. Once established, Gomphrena is relatively tolerant of dry conditions.

For increased cut-flower productivity, the first flowers can be removed. This encourages the secondary stems to develop more strongly and can increase the number of useful cutting stems.

Harvesting

For the best cut-flower quality, harvest when the flowers have developed their full colour and the heads are rounded, but before they begin to elongate.

Place freshly cut stems directly into clean water.

One of the major advantages of QIS® Gomphrena is its excellent vase performance. The breeder gives an expected vase life of approximately 14–16 days under suitable post-harvest conditions.

Excellent as a Dried Flower

Gomphrena is one of the most useful flowers for drying because the papery flower heads retain their shape and much of their colour after harvest.

For dried arrangements, cut healthy stems at a good stage of colour development and hang them upside down in a dry, warm and well-ventilated place away from strong direct sunlight.

QIS® Orange is particularly beautiful in dried autumn arrangements, wreaths and everlasting bouquets.

Why Grow QIS® Orange?

Intense orange colour • Professional QIS® cut-flower series • Strong, uniform stems • Excellent fresh flower • Outstanding dried flower • Long vase life • Heat-loving • Excellent for summer and autumn bouquets • Suitable for greenhouse and outdoor production

Gomphrena haageana QIS® Orange is an excellent choice for flower farmers and gardeners looking for a reliable orange cut flower with strong stems, excellent vase life and outstanding value for both fresh and dried arrangements.