Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena Globosa ‘Buddy White’)

Features and Characteristics

Gomphrena globosa, commonly called globe amaranth, is a compact annual that typically grows 12-24” tall on upright branching stems. The true flowers are insignificant, tiny, white to yellow trumpets that are only visible close up. It is the bright magenta bracts arranged in globose, papery-textured, clover-like flowerheads that provide the real show in a long summer to frost bloom. Cultivars expand the range of flowerhead colors to include red, pink, purple, lilac, violet and white. Long lasting fresh cut flower. Excellent dried flower (an everlasting) that retains color well. Narrow oblong to elliptic green leaves (to 4” long).

Genus name comes from the Latin name for a kind of amaranth usually grown as a dried flower.

Specific epithet means round or spherical.

Buddy Series is a series of dwarf, mounded annuals from Ernst Benary. The series includes ‘Buddy Purple’, ‘Buddy Rose’ and ‘Buddy White’. From late spring to mid fall, they have rich violet purple, rose or white flowers respectively in clover-like flowerheads. Though recommended as a dried flower, the short stems of this dwarf plant may make it more difficult to create a bouquet. They grow 3/4 to 1 ft. tall and wide.