Gomphrena

Family Amaranthaceae. The genus comprises 90 species native to the Americas, Australia and Africa. Annual and perennial herbs. In cultivation, globe amaranth (G. globosa L.) is grown. This is an annual belonging to the group of dried flowers (everlastings), reaching up to 50 cm in height, with strongly branched bushes and gray shiny leaves. The flowers are small, gathered into spherical inflorescences 3—4 cm in diameter, white, yellow, violet, reddish, purple. The inflorescences are located at the ends of the stems. Gomphrena blooms from June until the frosts. It does not produce seeds under our conditions.

The plant is sun- and heat-loving. It grows best in open sunny locations and on fertile, well-drained soils. It is propagated by sowing seeds in greenhouse trays in March; seedlings are pricked out into trays (5 x 5 cm) or into peat-compost pots. Gomphrena is planted out into the ground in June at a spacing of 25 x 25 cm. Care is standard: weeding, watering, loosening. Varieties with lilac-violet inflorescences are particularly striking.

Gomphrena is widely used in borders, flower beds and as a potted plant. It is good for winter bouquets. For this purpose, before the frosts the bushes are cut at the base and hung upside down by the flower heads to dry. Dried inflorescences retain their color and shape well.