Amaranthus (Love-Lies-Bleeding) in Zone 8a & 8b
Amaranthus caudatus
When to plant amaranthus (love-lies-bleeding) in zone 8b
Zones 8a and 8b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.
Method: Either: Start indoors for an earlier harvest, or direct-sow outside for less fuss. Amaranthus (Love-Lies-Bleeding) tolerates either.
| Start indoors | Feb 18–Feb 25 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Mar 25–Apr 1 |
| Estimated bloom | Jun 23–Jun 30 (~90 days after planting) |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 3-5 ft.

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 8's season
Zone 8b's frost-free window runs about 230 days, from March 25 to November 10. Amaranthus (Love-Lies-Bleeding) needs about 90 days from sowing to first harvest.
Good companions
No standout companions recorded yet for Amaranthus (Love-Lies-Bleeding).
Where to buy amaranthus seeds
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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 8b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →

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Growing Amaranthus (Love-Lies-Bleeding) in USDA zone 8b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.
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