Amaranthus (Love-Lies-Bleeding) in Zone 4a & 4b
Amaranthus caudatus
Yes, amaranthus (love-lies-bleeding) grows in zones 4a and 4b. Start seeds indoors Apr 10–Apr 17 and plant out May 15–May 22.
When to plant amaranthus (love-lies-bleeding) in zone 4b
Zones 4a and 4b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Either: Start indoors for an earlier harvest, or direct-sow outside for less fuss. Either works.
| Start indoors | Apr 10–Apr 17 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | May 15–May 22 |
| Estimated bloom | Aug 13–Aug 20 (~90 days after planting) |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 3-5 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 4b
These go outside within two weeks of amaranthus (love-lies-bleeding) in zone 4b, so one planting day can cover them.
- NasturtiumMay 22–May 29
- MarigoldMay 22–May 29
- African DaisyMay 15–May 22
- Ammi (False Queen Anne's Lace)May 15–May 22
- Ammobium (Winged Everlasting)May 15–May 22
- California BluebellMay 15–May 22
Amaranthus is an ornamental relative of the vegetable amaranths, grown not for its leaves but for its long, rope-like tassels of tiny flowers, deep red in the classic "love-lies-bleeding" form that gives the plant its common name.
How amaranthus (love-lies-bleeding) fits zone 4's season
Zone 4b's frost-free window runs about 128 days, from May 15 to September 20. Amaranthus (love-lies-bleeding) needs about 90 days from sowing to first bloom.
Amaranthus (Love-Lies-Bleeding) planting windows in every zone
Zone 4b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Bloom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2a & 2b | Apr 15–Apr 22 | May 20–May 27 | Aug 18–Aug 25 |
| 3a & 3b | Apr 25–May 2 | May 30–Jun 6 | Aug 28–Sep 4 |
| 4a & 4b (your zone) | Apr 10–Apr 17 | May 15–May 22 | Aug 13–Aug 20 |
| 5a & 5b | Apr 5–Apr 12 | May 10–May 17 | Aug 8–Aug 15 |
| 6a & 6b | Mar 21–Mar 28 | Apr 25–May 2 | Jul 24–Jul 31 |
| 7a & 7b | Mar 6–Mar 13 | Apr 10–Apr 17 | Jul 9–Jul 16 |
| 8a & 8b | Feb 18–Feb 25 | Mar 25–Apr 1 | Jun 23–Jun 30 |
| 9a & 9b | Jan 11–Jan 18 | Feb 15–Feb 22 | May 16–May 23 |
| 10a & 10b | Dec 26–Jan 2 | Jan 30–Feb 6 | Apr 30–May 7 |
| 11a & 11b | Nov 27–Dec 4 | Jan 1–Jan 8 | Apr 1–Apr 8 |
Bloom dates are about 90 days after the sow or plant-out date, not after starting seeds indoors.
Zone 2 sows before zone 3 here, which looks wrong and is not. USDA zones rank winter cold, not season length, and zone 2 is mostly interior Alaska, where hard winters come with warm summers. More on what a zone measures.
Good companions
No well-established companions for amaranthus (love-lies-bleeding).
Where to buy amaranthus seeds
True Leaf Market · Burpee (each supplier's amaranthus seeds)
Varieties we recommend, and where to get them:
- 'Love-Lies-Bleeding' amaranthus: Johnny's Selected Seeds sells Amaranthus caudatus under this name for its classic long, drooping, deep-red tassels, a Victorian-era garden favorite and their main offering of this particular species. Buy: True Leaf Market · Burpee Full notes
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing amaranthus (love-lies-bleeding)" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 4b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Amaranthus (Love-Lies-Bleeding) in USDA zone 4b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.
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