Amaranth 'Hot Biscuits'

Hot Biscuits (Amaranthus caudatus)
Bring a warm, harvest glow to your garden with Hot Biscuits amaranth. This variety is loved for its striking cinnamon-bronze plumes, which rise 4–5 feet tall to create a dramatic vertical accent in beds, borders, and cutting gardens. Its bold height and earthy tones make it a natural choice for autumn bouquets, where it pairs beautifully with sunflowers, dahlias, and other warm-season blooms. Pinching out the central bud encourages branching, giving you more stems for both fresh and dried use. Blooming steadily from midsummer into fall, Hot Biscuits thrives in full sun, tolerates heat, and draws in pollinators.

Whether grown for its ornamental beauty or its usefulness in floral work, this amaranth brings lasting texture and depth. The richly colored plumes dry beautifully, holding their bronze tones well into the colder months. Harvest at peak bloom for the most vibrant color, and hang stems upside down in a warm, dry place to preserve their shape. Reliable, easy to grow, and season-spanning in appeal, Hot Biscuits is a must-have for gardeners looking to add both height and warmth to their plantings.

DETAILS:

QTY: 100

TYPE: Annual

SITE: Full Sun

DEPTH: BARELY COVER

GERMINATION: 7 - 10 days at 21 - 24°C

HEIGHT: 24" - 30” Support may be necessary.

MATURITY: 65 - 75 Days

SPACING: 12 - 15”

PINCH: Yes

HOW TO GROW:

Transplanting (recommended): Start seeds indoors 4–6 weeks before your average last frost date. Barely cover the seeds with a fine layer of soil or vermiculite, as they require light to germinate. To avoid displacing them, bottom water or mist gently. Harden off seedlings by growing them at night temperatures of 17–18°C before transplanting outdoors after all danger of frost has passed.

Direct Seeding (alternative): Sow seeds outdoors after your last frost date. Sow seeds thinly and barely cover. Once seedlings have developed their first true leaves, thin them to a final spacing of 12–15" apart.

Pinching and Support: Pinching the tops of young plants will encourage a bushier habit and more blooms. Taller varieties may require staking or other support to prevent them from flopping over.

Soil Preference and Watering: Amaranthus thrives in full sun and tolerates a wide range of soil conditions, but prefers well-drained soil. It is a heat-loving and drought-tolerant plant once established, but will perform best with consistent moisture.

Fertilizing: Fertilizing is not typically necessary unless your soil is very poor. Over-fertilizing, especially with nitrogen, can lead to excessive foliage growth and fewer flowers.

Harvesting: For bouquets, harvest amaranthus when the flowers are about three-quarters of the way open and the stems are firm. For drying, harvest when the flowers are fully developed and the seeds are set. Hang bunches of stems upside down in a dark, well-ventilated area until completely dry.