Amaranthus cruentus ‘Hot Biscuits’
Hot Biscuits Amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus ‘Hot Biscuits’) is an annual just waiting for summer heat. That is when the drama begins. By the end of summer, it has reached a height of more than 2 m/6 ft. with large feathery plumes of bronze-orange. These plumes are the color of hot golden biscuits. As soon as you enter VanDusen, you will see this cultivar occupying a large container. It is a stunning sight.
Amaranth is easy to grow by seed. It doesn’t need much water and is happy in regular well-drained soil with lots of sun. Plus it is heat-tolerant. Amaranth is able to take in and store extra carbon. When temperatures soar, it doesn’t need to open its pores. This efficient photosynthesis method is called the C4 carbon-fixation pathway.
But amaranth has something even better than being a no-fuss plant with a striking appearance. Its young leaves are delicious to eat as well as being high in vitamins and minerals. Its tiny seeds are nutritious too. Amaranth is thought to have been domesticated six thousand years ago in ancient Mesoamerica.
The pictures were taken in October and it was bursting with seed then.
Text and photos by Hughie Jones