Gomphrena 'Little Grapes'

We acquired this as Gomphrena 'Teensy Weensy' but it seems to be better known as 'Little Grapes'. Very tiny purple globe amaranth blossoms on wiry sprawling stems are produced in winter, spring and fall. This is definitely a plant to view up-close. We enjoyed it in our "1960's retro colors" container with Tweedia, and Helichrysum 'Limelight' .

I just picked this up at a small out-of-state nursery a few years ago not really knowing what it was & it has turned out to be one of the coolest plants I’ve grown. It creates the typical papery “Bachelor Buttons” flowers but they are tiny & form by the thousands on each plant. The cute magenta-purple balls occur on wiry chalk white stems & create an airy puff all around the plant. Also this Gomphrena is a perennial here in the Bay Area unlike other “Bachelor Buttons” that are just annuals. It forms a mound about 2 1/2’ tall by 3’ wide & blooms Summer through Fall. I cut it back to the ground in Winter so there will be fresh growth the following year. It has reseeded gently in my garden & the airy flowers look great mixing in between other plants. Makes a very cool cut & dried flower too.