Amaranth is an annual grown for its red blooms, which open in summer. It's hardy across USDA zones 2 through 11 and shrugs off deer.
Zones
2-11
pH Range
4.3-8.5
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
90
Score Amaranth on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether amaranth actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score amaranth against your land's real conditions.
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
No card required · your full report in seconds
What Amaranth is
Amaranth grows as an annual and reaches around four feet at maturity. It blooms red in summer. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Amaranth
Amaranth grows in USDA zones 2 through 11. Amaranth does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 4.3 to 8.5, on well-drained ground. It needs around 1,200 growing degree days to mature and a growing season of at least 30 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
2-11
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
4.3 - 8.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
44.6°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Days to Maturity
90 days
plant_species_v5.csv
GDD Required
1200+
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
4 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
30+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant amaranth in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Amaranth prefers pH 4.3 to 8.5 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at its peak
Cut amaranth blooms in the cool of the morning, just as they open, for the longest display.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — amaranth isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Amaranth isn't classified as a notable pollinator plant in our data — pair it with high-value bloomers nearby to feed bees.
Where Amaranth thrives
On hardiness alone, amaranth grows across most of the country — its range (USDA zones 2 through 11) is unusually wide. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 2–11·Where Amaranth growsOpen map →
Continental US shown — Alaska and US Pacific territories sit outside the federal map's polygon dataset.
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Amaranth can grow in these states:
See if Amaranth will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether amaranth actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
25+ data sources analyzed in seconds
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Amaranth in my zone?
Amaranth grows in USDA hardiness zones 2 through 11 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Amaranth?
Most growers plant amaranth after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 30-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Amaranth need?
Amaranth needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Amaranth need?
Amaranth prefers soil pH 4.3 to 8.5, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Amaranth attract pollinators?
Amaranth isn't classified as a notable pollinator plant in our data. Pairing it with high-value bloomers nearby keeps bees and butterflies fed.
Is Amaranth safe for pets?
Amaranth is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.