'Coral Fountain' Amaranth

Amaranthus caudatus

Origin: Mexico

Improvement status: Cultivar

Seeds per packet: ~250

Germination tested 11/2024: 90%

Life cycle: Annual

Coral Fountain' produces elegant cascades of peach-coral flowers which give way to piles of golden seeds that can be used as a grain. The flowers contrast beautifully with the edible green leaves. This plant resembles the more-common "Love Lies Bleeding" amaranth, but with a unique coral coloring. Plants grow to 5 feet tall.

Amaranth seeds are a pseudocereal which can be used like a grain in cookies, cakes, crackers, bread, porridge, or "polenta", and even popped for a traditional Mexican snack (typically mixed with honey and known as "alegria"). The grain has a unique, earthy which many people adore. Nate likes to boil amaranth until well-done and then mix it with a little cream (or sour cream) and honey. The green leaves of this amaranth are also quite tasty, though we like the taste better cooked than raw. Amaranth is very easy to grow, and a single plant can produce a pint of seeds and many pounds of leaves over the course of a season.

Our seeds come from Jennifer Williams of Wild Dreams Farm on Vashon Island, Washington.