Spreading Amaranth: A Southwestern Native Worth Knowing
If you’re looking to add authentic Southwestern flair to your native plant garden, spreading amaranth (Amaranthus crassipes var. warnockii) might just be the under-the-radar annual you’ve been searching for. This little-known native forb brings a piece of the true American Southwest right to your backyard—though you’ll need to be in the right neighborhood to grow it successfully.
What Is Spreading Amaranth?
Spreading amaranth is a native annual forb that belongs to the diverse amaranth family. As a forb, it’s an herbaceous plant without woody stems—think of it as nature’s version of a soft, leafy annual that completes its entire life cycle in one growing season. This particular variety is indigenous to the lower 48 states, specifically calling the landscapes of New Mexico and Texas home.
Unlike some of its more common amaranth cousins that you might find in grocery stores or more widely cultivated gardens, this southwestern native has adapted to the specific growing conditions of its regional homeland.
Why Consider Spreading Amaranth for Your Garden?
Here’s where things get interesting—and a bit challenging. Spreading amaranth is what we might call a specialist plant. It’s perfectly adapted to its native range in New Mexico and Texas, but that also means it’s quite particular about where it will thrive.
The Good News:
- It’s a true native, supporting local ecosystem health
- As an annual, it won’t take over your garden permanently
- It’s authentic to Southwestern landscapes
- Likely supports native wildlife, though specific benefits aren’t well-documented
The Challenge: Limited information exists about this particular variety’s specific growing requirements, appearance, and garden performance. This makes it more of an experimental choice for adventurous native plant enthusiasts rather than a sure-bet garden staple.
Is This Plant Right for Your Garden?
Spreading amaranth is best suited for gardeners who:
- Live within or near its native range (New Mexico and Texas)
- Are passionate about growing regionally-specific native plants
- Enjoy experimenting with lesser-known species
- Want to support local biodiversity with indigenous plants
If you’re looking for a well-documented, widely-available native plant with known garden performance, you might want to consider other native amaranth species or southwestern natives with more established horticultural information.
Growing Spreading Amaranth: What We Know
Since this is such a specialized native variety, growing information is limited. However, we can make some educated guesses based on its native habitat and family characteristics:
General Growing Conditions:
- Likely prefers full sun (typical of southwestern natives)
- Probably drought-tolerant once established
- May prefer well-draining soils
- As an annual, will need to be replanted each year or allowed to self-seed
USDA Hardiness Zones: Based on its native range in New Mexico and Texas, it likely grows best in zones 7-10, though specific zone information isn’t available.
The Bottom Line
Spreading amaranth represents the fascinating world of highly-specialized native plants that are perfectly adapted to specific regions. While it may not be the easiest native plant to grow or find, it offers dedicated native plant gardeners in the Southwest an opportunity to cultivate something truly authentic to their local ecosystem.
If you’re determined to try growing this unique native, your best bet is to connect with native plant societies in New Mexico and Texas, or specialized native seed companies that focus on regional southwestern species. They may have seeds or growing advice that isn’t widely available.
For gardeners outside the natural range or those wanting more reliable options, consider exploring other native amaranth species or well-documented southwestern natives that can provide similar ecological benefits with more predictable results.
