Amaranthus cruentus

Amaranthus cruentus (scientific name: Amaranthus cruentus) is a non-cold-tolerant annual herb native to Guatemala in the family Amaranthaceae. It is a tall, slender flowering spike with numerous small red flowers. The inflorescence is bushy and upright. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant throughout the world as its flowers are spectacular and bloom in unbroken succession. The seeds are rich in protein, including starch and the essential amino acid lysine, and are eaten as a cereal. The leaves become a vegetable and the flowers are used as dyes and medicines.

Common name: Amaranthus cruentus, scientific name: Amaranthus cruentus, also known as Red amaranth, Place of origin: Guatemala (Tropical America), Best viewing season: Summer, Leaf color: Purple, Inflorescence: Alternate, Inflorescence: Spike inflorescence, Flower color: Red.