Phlowers – Amaranth/Love Lies Bleeding

On By TimelessladyIn Phlowers

Amaranthus caudatus – Love Lies Bleeding, is a beautiful annual plant. Mine self seeds and comes back every year in the same spot. It is a heavy plant, bending over in summer storms when laden with flowers.

The flower heads droop down, in a deep magenta/crimson shade. Often the strands will touch the ground.

My Love Lies Bleeding grows in full sun. When the flowers reach a good length I often cut them where they join the stem, rubber band them together, and hang them in a dark closet. Harvesting and drying them is that easy…but wait…I should have put something beneath them to capture the seeds that fall out as they dry.

I have also dried the flowers in my dehydrator.

One drawback is the inevitable chewed leaves on the plant. The lush foliage is attractive to bugs, and is also a green that can be eaten by people. The leaves can be used like spinach and sauteed. The seeds are a type of grain and can be dried, cooked, and eaten like porridge. They can be ground into flour. Amaranth is gluten free.

I love this unique, old-fashioned cottage garden annual. Love Lies Bleeding is part of Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge.

13 thoughts on “Phlowers – Amaranth/Love Lies Bleeding”

    1. Timelesslady

      I don’t eat it, I mainly use it as an ornamental and save the long strands for crafts. Thanks for stopping by….my life is a bit topsy-turvy right now, but things seem to be evening out a bit. It’s good to connect with my blogging friends…it helps keep me grounded.

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    1. Timelesslady

      Thanks Cee. I love being part of the challenges. I’ve been having a hard time visiting favorite blogs and posting. Both of my parents are in failing health right now. One in rehab one in the hospital and headed to rehab. So much going on…but my garden is still blooming and full of flowers. God is good!

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      1. You hands have been full! Taking care of your parents’ needs is time consuming and I am hoping that rehab. has stabilized them both so you can get a bit of a breather. You’re a good daughter.
        I turned 70 this year! Time flies! I was reflecting back on my teen years and decided, I LOVED the 60’s & 70’s because of all the great music we heard and its rapid evolution. I welcomed the “British Invasion” as it broadened our musical horizons. The Beatles were okay – I was more of an Eric Clapton fan. Ahhh to be young again.

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        1. Timelesslady

          Thanks so much for your kind comment. Sadly, my mother passed away in early September. My father is adjusting to so many changes at this time. He is in his late 80’s, and in poor health at the moment, adjusting to losing my mother, their home being sold, and being pretty much kicked out of where we had originally found a place for him. Healthcare is horrendous for the elderly in most places. I’ll be blogging about the journey through the last few months. It has been difficult and will not be resolved as to the packing and selling of the house until the end of the month. hy

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    1. Timelesslady

      I am so often amazed at the many uses of what I think of as ornamentals. I can try to save some seed for you if you would like. Let me know!

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Thanks so much for your comments. They fill my life with sunshine.

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