Globe Amaranth | Gomphrena globosa

As part of our early summer plantings in the Flight Encounter and surrounding areas, we've recently added some Globe Amaranth to the gardens. This underused little annual is a terrific addition to the Florida butterfly garden, since it tolerates heat as long as it receives plenty of water - perfect for our steamy summers.

Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena globosa) is native to Brazil, Panama, and Guatemala. It's a member of the Amaranth (Amaranthaceae) family, which is well-known for its long-lasting blooms. The brightly-colored flower heads, which resemble clover flowers, are actually made up of stiff structures called "bracts"; the flowers themselves are very small and tucked into these colorful heads. Butterflies and other small pollinators are drawn to these tiny flowers.

Plant Globe Amaranth in full sun to part shade and water well until established. After that, Florida's summer rains should be all it needs to continue flowering throughout the season. Some varieties are very compact, growing only 6 inches tall or so, while others can stretch their stems up to two feet in height. Read plant tags when purchasing to determine where to place this annual in your garden. Learn more about growing Globe Amaranth here.

What's in a name? Gomphrena is the Latin name for Amaranth, to which family this plant belongs. The word Amaranth itself means "everlasting" or "unfading". Indeed, Globe Amaranth makes an excellent dried flower. The papery nature of the bracts allows gomphrena blooms to dry well and retain their color for a very long time; preserve the heads by drying upside-down in a warm dark place. As for globosa, it means just what it sounds like - spherical.