Plant Guide

Other Names:  Bachelor's Button

Brand:  Sakata

Description:

Add height and interest to containers, gardens and flower arrangements with Ping Pong; producing bright purple globed blooms, rising above dark green foliage; this drought tolerant, heat and humidity lover is a low maintenance plant for any gardener

Ornamental Features

Ping Pong Purple Globe Amaranth has masses of beautiful purple ball-shaped flowers at the ends of the stems from late spring to early fall, which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its oval leaves remain dark green in color throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Ping Pong Purple Globe Amaranth is an herbaceous annual with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.

This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep. Trim off the flower heads after they fade and die to encourage more blooms late into the season. It is a good choice for attracting bees and butterflies to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Ping Pong Purple Globe Amaranth is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Ping Pong Purple Globe Amaranth will grow to be about 20 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 10 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 8 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. This annual will normally live for one full growing season, needing replacement the following year.

This plant should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.

Ping Pong Purple Globe Amaranth is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.