Joseph’s Coat Amaranthus ( Amaranthus tricolour ) is an annual herbaceous plant who’s leaves, stems and roots are all edible. It is most often eaten as a cooked vegetable, but the young leaves can be used in salads and in India they eat the stems steamed, like asparagus. Young leaves are a great alternative to spinach during the warmer times of the year. Alongside Amaranthus tricolour’s edible uses, it also has medicinal properties.
The name Joseph’s coat was given to the plant because of its array of foliage colours, named after the biblical story about Joseph and his coat of many colours. Amaranthus tricolour has several other common names which include Edible Amaranth, Bireum, Elephant-head Amaranth, Chinese Amaranth, Chinese Spinach and Fountain Plant.
Growth
Joseph’s Coat Amaranthus is a fast growing annual that can reach up to 1.2 metres tall and 0.8 metres wide in 4-5 months. It is best planted towards the back of garden beds to avoid it stealing sunlight from some of the lower growing plants. Its foliage can be a mix of many colours which include, green, purple, yellow, orange, and red, depending on the cultivar. Young leaves can be harvested continuously from as early as 30 days for salads. Flowers are large and purple in colour.
This species is not frost tolerant and will die off as the weather cools to 10°C or lower.
Note: Germination instructions can be found in the ‘Germination Instructions Tab’ below. Upon purchase you will receive these detailed instructions via email so that you have a permanent record.
FAMILY:
Amaranthaceae
CLIMATE:
Temperate, Sub Tropical, Tropical
TEMPERATURE RANGE:
10 to 45°C / 50 to 113°F
SOIL TYPE:
Well-draining soil
LOCATION:
Full Sun. Will be happy with some afternoon shade in hotter climates.
HEIGHT:
Up to 1.2 metres (4 feet)
WIDTH:
Up to 0.8 metres (2.6 feet)
pH:
5.0-7.8
GROWTH TYPE:
Annual, Fast Growing.
WATER REQUIREMENTS:
Medium – Becomes more drought tolerant as it matures but will need to be kept moist as a seedling and juvenile plant.
POLLINATION:
Self-Pollinating. Monoecious – both male and female flowers are present on the same plant.
MATURITY:
2-3 months. Plant will die off after around 4 months.
GERMINATION RATES:
94%
GERMINATION TIME:
1-2 weeks, dependent on conditions.
GERMINATION DIFFICULTY:
Easy
SEEDS PER GRAM:
Approximately 1500
MEDICINAL QUALITIES:
Yes
WEED POTENTIAL:
No
EDIBLE:
Yes
SEED STORAGE & VIABILITY:
Cold Storage at 4°C (Fridge) up to 4-5 years.
FACTS ABOUT AMARANTHUS TRICOLOR (Joseph’s Coat Amaranthus)
Joseph’s Coat appears on the coat of arms of Gonville Caius College in Cambridge, England.
Amaranthus tricolor is a synonym of Amaranthus gangeticus, meaning it is the same plant.
This species has been used for a huge range of ailments in traditional medicine including toothache, urinary tract infections, diabetes, for blood purifying, anaemia and for pain relief!
