Love Lies Bleeding Plant Care

Love Lies Bleeding (Amaranthus caudatus) belongs to the Amaranthaceae family within the Amaranthus genus. Love Lies Bleeding is native to South America, Central America, Mexico. Love Lies Bleeding is also known as Love-Lies-Bleeding, Trailing Amaranth, Foxtail Amaranth.

Love Lies Bleeding displays an upright, bushy growth habit, reaching up to 4 ft tall with a spread of approximately 2 ft. Love Lies Bleeding produces small, inconspicuous flowers in dense clusters.

Leaf size: approximately 4 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Love Lies Bleeding every 7–10 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Love Lies Bleeding thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Amaranthus caudatus tolerates temperatures of 60–85°F. Love Lies Bleeding prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Well-draining soil with high organic content. Good drainage is essential for Love Lies Bleeding to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Love Lies Bleeding every 4 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining soil with high organic content. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Love Lies Bleeding is suited to USDA Zone 10a – 11b.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Love Lies Bleeding can spread to about 2 ft (0.6 m) and reach about 4 ft (1 m) tall. Space plants about 2 ft (0.6 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.

Prune Love Lies Bleeding while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.

Love Lies Bleeding is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 10). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

Love Lies Bleeding can be propagated through seeds, stem cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to southern amaranth plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Love Lies Bleeding is susceptible to aphids, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Love Lies Bleeding grows outdoors in USDA Zone 10a – 11b. It survives winters down to planting zone 10a. Love Lies Bleeding is native to South America, Central America, Mexico. In cooler regions, grow Love Lies Bleeding as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.