Amaranthus tricolor Joseph's Coat - Amaranth

Amaranthus tricolor Joseph's Coat, also known as Joseph's Coat amaranth, is a tall, fast-growing annual plant, cultivated for its variegated young foliage with great ornamental value. Its juvenile undulate leaves, gathered in clusters, blend bronze, gold, orange, and red in large splashes that persist well into autumn. This plant is magnificent in flower beds, pots, or bouquets. It thrives in sunlight, well-drained soil rich in nitrogen.

Also known as tricolor amaranth or elephant-head amaranth, this bushy annual belongs to the Amaranth family. It is native to tropical areas of Southeast Asia (China, Japan, India, Java). It forms vigorous clumps, 60 cm (24in) in height and 40 cm (16in) in diameter throughout the year. 'Joseph's Coat' is a cultivar with richly coloured foliage. The large evergreen leaves are elongated and tapered, wavy-edged, and strongly veined. They are alternate and arranged in a circle around the thick, sturdy stems. When juvenile, at the tips of the stems, they are flamboyant, variegated, and their beautiful colours persist until the first frost. Then they turn green. The flowering, quite inconspicuous in this variety, occurs in late summer and autumn. The tiny red flowers are gathered in modest panicles.

Amaranthus Tricolor are wonderful foliage plants that have their place in flower beds. Their exotic appearance also suits large pots on the patio. They are also edible plants, which can be sown in the vegetable garden. They can be consumed raw in salads or cooked like spinach.