Variety field guide
What to expect from Coral Fountain Amaranth
Coral Fountain is an annual ornamental and grain amaranth selection grown for ornamental heads, edible leaves or grain where appropriate, dye types, and seed saving.
Read the complete product descriptionTraits, flavor, garden use, variety notes, and the full catalog record
Amaranth Seeds - Coral Fountain offers a striking addition to your garden with its cascading plumes of coral-pink flowers. Known for its vigorous growth, Coral Fountain thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, making it a resilient choice for both novice and experienced gardeners. The flowers of Coral Fountain are not just visually appealing but also versatile.
About Coral Fountain
Coral Fountain is an annual selection of ornamental and grain amaranth, with an upright/erect habit and an expected height or spread of 61–72 in. It is best suited to ornamental heads, edible leaves or grain where appropriate, dye types, and seed saving. Notable traits include harvest flower heads when seed is mature and begins to release with rubbing; young leaves are mild; mature seed has a nutty grain character.
When growing Coral Fountain, judge the whole planting for trueness to type instead of selecting conclusions from one unusually large or early plant.
History and provenance
Amaranths were domesticated and diversified in more than one region for grain, leafy greens, ornament, and dye. Species and seed-lot identity matter: Amaranthus tricolor leafy types should not inherit Mesoamerican grain-amaranth history, and culturally named dye lines require provenance beyond the name alone. Plant History – Coral Fountain Amaranth Long before its coral-pink plumes graced ornamental gardens, Coral Fountain Amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus) grew in the ancient terraces of the Andes and the sun-warmed valleys of Mesoamerica. There, amaranth was not merely a crop but a sacred companion in the great triad of Indigenous agriculture-maize, beans, and amaranth-each representing balance, nourishment, and spiritual harmony. For the Inca, Quechua, and Aztec civilizations, amaranth symbolized endurance, beauty, and the cyclical renewal of life. The plant’s seeds were mixed with honey or the sap of maguey and molded into figures of the gods, later eaten in ceremonies meant to unite the people with the divine. When Spanish colonizers arrived in the 1500s, they misunderstood the sacredness of the ritual. To suppress the old ways, they outlawed amaranth cultivation in many regions, threatening punishment for its planting.
Growing facts
| Scientific name | Amaranthus caudatus L. |
|---|---|
| Life cycle | Annual |
| Maturity | 90-99 Days |
| Germination | 5-10 Days at 70–85 °F |
| Seed depth | 1/4 in |
| Plant height / spread | 61–72 in |
| Growth habit | Upright/Erect |
| Spacing | 12 in between plants; 24 in between rows |
| Sunlight | Full sun |
| Soil | Loamy; pH 6.0–6.5 |
| Water | Moderate |
| Support | No-Support |
Starting Coral Fountain from seed
Sow 1/4 in deep and keep the seed zone evenly moist. Expect emergence in 5-10 Days when the seed-zone temperature is near 70–85 °F. Germination preparation: Use a fine, evenly moist seed-starting mix or prepared seedbed. Light requirement: Cover evenly to 1/4 in. Soaking: None required. Stratification: None required. Scarification: None required.
Planting and care
Plant during late Spring and provide full sun. Space plants 12 in apart with 24 in between rows. Use loamy with a pH near 6.0–6.5, and follow a moderate watering plan. Support requirement: No-Support. Frost response: Tender. Medium to large container or in-ground bed; avoid crowding
Harvest and use
Approximately 90-99 Days, from warm direct sowing to mature flower heads or dry seed. Weather, soil temperature, and planting method can shift the actual harvest date. Harvest: Harvest flower heads when seed is mature and begins to release with rubbing. Uses: Ornamental heads, edible leaves or grain where appropriate, dye types, and seed saving. Flavor: young leaves are mild; mature seed has a nutty grain character. Seed saving: Wind and insect-pollinated annual. Best uses include ornamental heads, edible leaves or grain where appropriate, dye types, and seed saving. Flavor and eating quality: young leaves are mild; mature seed has a nutty grain character.
Saving seed
Select several healthy, true-to-type Coral Fountain plants that match the expected upright/erect habit and overall plant form. Avoid saving seed only from the earliest or largest individual unless that is your deliberate selection goal. Pollination system: Wind and insect-pollinated annual. Amaranth can cross within compatible species and populations. Separate compatible varieties that may flower together, or use cages, barriers, hand pollination, or another documented control appropriate to the crop. Allow selected plants to pass the eating stage and reach full botanical seed maturity. Harvest only when seed heads, pods, or fruits have matured enough for sound seed development. Clean the seed carefully, dry it thoroughly away from direct heat, label the lot with variety and year, and store it cool, dark, and dry. Test germination before an important planting or distribution season.
Common problems
Common concerns: Leaf miners, aphids, flea beetles, damping-off, Cercospora or other leaf spots, and root problems in waterlogged soil. Management: Rotate crop families, remove badly affected leaves, improve airflow, and keep the root zone moist but not saturated. Diagnosis note: Similar symptoms can have different causes. Compare plants of the same age, record weather and irrigation, and use local Extension or diagnostic support before applying a control.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions - Coral Fountain
When is Coral Fountain ready? Use 90-99 Days. Approximately 90-99 Days, from warm direct sowing to mature flower heads or dry seed. Weather, soil temperature, and planting method can shift the actual harvest date.
How long does germination take? Expect 5-10 Days at about 70–85 °F. Cooler, hotter, crusted, saturated, or dry seedbeds can slow emergence.
How large does it grow? Expect about 61–72 in with an upright/erect habit. Space plants 12 in apart and rows 24 in apart. Support: No-Support.
Can it grow in a container? Medium to large container or in-ground bed; avoid crowding Use a container with drainage and enough volume to maintain the listed spacing and steady moisture.
Can I save seed? Wind and insect-pollinated annual. Keep compatible varieties isolated and allow selected plants to reach full seed maturity.
