For our July Horticulture presentation Linda Hooper introduced us to Gomphrena.  Gomphrena is also known as Globe Amaranth, Globe flower and Bachelor’s Button.

Photo Courtesy of WalterGardens

This old-fashioned annual produces a plethora of pompom-like blooms all summer long and works equally well in container arrangements, garden beds, and borders to provide long-lasting color.  It is a sun lover, is heat and drought tolerant and requires little maintenance once established.

The clover-like flowerheads are actually made up of colorful bracts in shades of purple, pink, red, orange, or white.  Its height varies by type, ranging from dwarf cultivars that grow 6 to 8 inches tall to others, such as ‘Fireworks’ that can grow as tall as 4 feet.