There are several great things about Gomphrena. Number one is how well it does through Texas summers. By fall the plants are a mass of color. Second, they grow easily from seed planted in the ground. Many times the seed overwinter and the plants just pop up in all kinds of places. They do like the ground to be warm before they germinate.
On visiting the garden of one of our garden bloggers this spring I picked a few seeds from her "little grapes"and threw them in the ground in the vegetable bed. So that is where this plant grew all summer. I love the tiny, deep purple flower heads which grow at the end of thin wiry stems. I am really hoping that it will be easy to move the plant to a permanent home when it dies back to the ground. If we ever get winter this year!
They look so pretty in the tall vase. I went right out and picked some for my table this morning! Thanks for the tip.
ReplyDeleteI have found gomphrena to be a great addition to my garden as well since they bloom in the most adverse conditions. Grapes gomphrena are easy to start from cuttings and they quite hardy in the winter. I've begun to stick them in all around the garden.
Cuttings? You will have to share how you take them. The flowering stalk seems to have few if any leaves. Is this where you take the cutting?
DeleteI don't think I've ever seen this in the Algarve. It's so pretty!
ReplyDeleteThanks Mara. Such a sweet little bloom and will look great next year if I mange to get it out of the ground.
DeleteYou're the reason that Gomphrena 'fireworks' is on my "seeds to get" list. I'm adding 'Little Grapes' now too. :-)
ReplyDeleteAlan- I can send you seeds of fireworks if you like. They are not prolific seeds producers as the others are but I always get some to sprout.
DeleteJenny, I seem to only be able to grow the red gomphrena, though the purple is what I really want. I've scattered seeds for two years now, with nothing growing from them. Where did you get your seeds originally?
ReplyDeleteRobin- It is so long ago since I planted them that I can't remember. I'll save you some seeds. Funnily I have trouble with the red one. t never has the beauty of the globe amaranths. This 'grapes' may not make seeds this year as it has only just flowered but I know someone in our group will have them.
DeleteI've never tried gomphrena. What kind of watering does it need?
ReplyDeleteI grew Strawberry Fields gomphrena this year. I started it from seeds I purchased at a local nursery. It's been a real good performer and I would recommend it if you want to add more gomphrena's to your collection. I haven't saved any seeds and I'm not sure if the red will come back on it's own the way the purple does. We'll see.
ReplyDeleteSo pretty. I've grown several too. Some do better than others here. My drainage isn't as sharp as yours.~~Dee
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