![]() ![]() Stems with freshly bloomed flowers will have a slight wiggle and may be prone to minor wilting. Harvesting Gomphrena FlowersĪs with most cut flowers, the best time to harvest gomphrena is early morning or late evening when the plants are at their coolest and most hydrated.Ĭhoose flowers that have color to them but are not fully open and have a bit of stiffness to their stems. This is one flower that will thrive in the heat and bloom all the way up till the first hard frost of the season. Some first-time growers and home gardeners have prematurely written this plant off for its underwhelming early-season performance, but gomphrena will explode when the days are the longest and hottest. The average days to full maturity will be between 85 and 100 days. Here in South Eastern Pennsylvania (zone 7a), gomphrena is a sleeper for much of early summer. Again, this is a great low-maintenance flower! It is not prone to diseases or pests, but it will attract bees and butterflies. However, gomphrena does not require any supports, tying, or corralling. Coming from someone with a limited growing area who plants extremely tight (maybe even half of what seed packets suggest), this is one plant that needs breathing room. This plant can reach up to 24 inches in height with an 8–10 inch spread at maturity. Place plants about 7 inches apart as they will be bushy and need adequate space. ![]() Select an area that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. Gomphrena will grow in almost any soil condition, but it must be well-drained. Direct outdoor seeding is not recommended unless you’re in growing zone 9 or above. Gomphrena does not need to be pinched, as the plant will branch naturally. Grow under lights until plants have at least two sets of true leaves and begin hardening off to prepare seedlings to be planted outdoors. These guys are slow growers, so do not be discouraged if for the first couple weeks (or more!) you're staring at the same set of leaves. Seedlings will emerge on average after 7–14 days, although using a heat mat will speed germination. Sow gomphrena seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost into pre-moistened seed-starting mix. The flower's colorful papery sections are called bracts, which are essentially modified leaves.) How to Grow Gomphrena (Little known fact-these “fireworks” are the proper "flower" of Gomphrena. Each variety has the most subtle gold or white stamens presented in a halo around the flower's perimeter that look like miniature fireworks.Įven more captivating, there is a fireworks variety of gomphrena where these explosions are fully displayed. While not available in every color of the rainbow, you can find seeds in both bold and muted pastels of purples, pinks, oranges, reds, and true white. It’s the perfect accent for any design piece needing a little extra interest or volume. Using Gomphrena in Floral Arrangementsįresh or dried, gomphrena offers a playful, delicate, and diverse texture in bouquets and arrangements. Gomphrena (also known as Globe Amaranth) is that tiny but mighty workhouse flower every farmer should be growing-and one that every florist should consider incorporating. How about a flower with a two-week vase-life? Looking for an annual cut flower that is easy to germinate, low maintenance, and no-fuss post-harvesting?
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