Amaranthus hypochondriacus

Amaranthus hypochondriacus is the beautiful annual that you see in our gardens from July until late fall when it dies back because of frost.  Prince’s-feather and Prince-of-Wales feather are also common names for this plant.

The plant is known to have been a staple food of the Aztecs and used in their rituals.  There is some evidence that early Native Americans grew it as a crop.

The leaves of the plant and the seeds are a food source and a red pigment derived from the plant has been used as a food coloring.

Enjoy this lovely ornamental but beware –it is a vigorous self-seeder!

Source:  Encyclopedia of Life  eol.org and Plants for a Future  pfaf.org