Paul,
I don't know, but I wintersowed mine and have the same issue. Stuck and no signs of growing. Another garden pal also WS hers and it is doing the same. Will try to keep an eye open on this thread. Suz

orange font? not!
As to amaranthus: I did all mine by seed. Sowed in April in 6 packs. Planted out in late May.
Have plants in 5 locations. Soil is nothing special. A couple of the locations get hot reflected afternoon sun. All locations get at least 6 hours of sun/day.
A couple of plants are 3 feet or more.
Most are 2 feet or just under.
They look fine and are developing the particular flower form they are named for. I have "elephant head", "hopi red dye", and "towers" in both green & red.
I water them plenty, just like I water zinnias or other summer annuals.
I haven't found them to be particular or difficult. Maybe I got lucky. This is my first time sowing amaranthus.

I wsed Intense purple two came out I was getting ready to pitch them when I noticed these teeny seedlings, planted out towards end of May. Now those two particular ones are about 2 1/2 feet tall and developing a bud of sort on top. I also did love lies bleeding by direct sowing middle of May, they range 4 1/2 to 2 1/2 ft (except for those transplanted) and the amaranthus 'poinsettia' range from 2-3 inches up to 10. I got a late start on a lot of things this year, which may have had something to do with it. I readied the beds last fall with horse manure and peat moss, did nothing with them this spring except weeded, turn over and fluffed up. Most of the locations get 6-10 hours of sun. I don't know what would be right or wrong as these all are 1st time for me but hope with time some of the amaranthus will improve.
G_M

I had four. I planted them this spring in a window box that sits on the deck rail. They stayed short and finally died about two weeks ago. They were a rosy pink. Are some types dwarf?

There's been an earlier posting on amaranthus where people have complained about the same thing - plants just sitting there and not growing much. The seed catalogues for all the ones I tried claimed that they'd get to about 4 foot tall but they haven't done it yet for me! I tried Amaranthus tricolor 'Early Splendor' from seed and the seedlings got to the true-leaf stage then did absolutely nothing. My 'Intense Purple' are still tiny (I admit that often it's my fault for keeping plants in small pots for too long before planting them out). 'Velvet Curtains' are doing okay but are only a couple of feet tall at best. I'm sure a lot of it is to do with the fact that we in the UK get less intensity of light... but so far here in the south-east we've had an unusual amount of hot, dry and sunny weather and the damn things STILL haven't grown!

Same problem. Yet the coneflowers growing in the same bed are giants. I don't get understand what the problem could be. The plant looks healthy enough, but it's little...barely grown at all since I planted it. Sorry I can't offer any helpful advice. Just wanted to commiserate, I suppose.

Renee

Me too! I can't believe how slowly they're growing. I thought maybe it was just me, but it doesn't sound like it. Maybe they'll take off suddenly - I hope!

If the weather has been cool for you it may just be waiting for the heat. I noticed mine will stay very small until it gets hot and steady.
Here is a last year wintersowed A. caudatus 'Love-Lies-Bleeding. This year they are progressing as normal as last and forming their tassles. Can take a pic of the re-seeders from these in the morning. Also tried 'Intense Purple' this year and 1 is now at about almost 2' forming it's plume and they other was ate up too bad by earwigs and is doing poorly. Soil is sandy loam where these are planted.
{{gwi:18501}}

Vera

Vera, you're making me jealous!! That's beautiful. Maybe next year I can keep one alive.

LOL! I don't do anything special to the soil or water any differently then the rest of my flower garden...most if not all in my yard are drought tolerant.
Here are those re-seeders from the above pic..
I'm standing above this one...right now it's about 2'...
{{gwi:18502}}

These I just tossed where I needed some last fall....come spring I totally forgot I did it and they started popping up in late April. The palmate leaves in the pic is Castor Bean...
{{gwi:18503}}

Vera

whattya got against orange, deep roots? ;-D hehheh

Well at least I know I'm not alone. I planted 'tricolor'. Definitely have colored up but they supposedly get 36" tall. Mine are apparently unaware of that fact.

Vera, yah if we'd been having a lot of cool weather I could understand the shortness, but it's been quite hot here [80's & 90's] so I can't see that being the missing 'ingredient'.

I have found that the key to successful growing from seeds is consistant watering .. If they wilt even one time they never seem to recover as some other plants will. They do best in warm. moist soil and full sun and good drainage.

Paul -
I had posted last month about this same problem. I think the Love-Lies-Bleeding Amaranthus behaves differently than those we're growing for the varicolored foliage. My tricolor has spread a little bit, but is only about 4 inches tall. We've had heat and drought here in Illinois, though I've been watering a bit. It looks healthy, just short.

I'm starting to think this variety is a dud.

Well, I am so glad I am not alone. I got several varieties of seeds from eBay and they all sprouted, but then nothing. I found a six pack in the garden center of one variety (Tri-color, I think) and only 2 made it. I didn't realize they could be wintersown...I have some seeds left, so I think I will try that next year.

Sorry to bring up an old thread but I was searching the web to see pics of a plant someone was talking about in the Name that plant forum.

Turns out I have an amaranthus that is a weed in the yard. We planted three of them last year from a neighbor and they came back this year on their own. So we took siz little seedings from one area of the yard and moved them to another. The darn thing spread like crazy and now covers the entire front yard right behind the fence and it is over 6 feet tall. It's in really bad soil/full sun and only gets watered when I see it wilting.

I realize it may be a different variety that you guys/gals are talking about but this darn thing is a weed. I know this is silly but are you sure this is an annual? I thought perennials came back on their own and this one sure did.

Here is a pic, maybe I have something mixed up. My googling says it is called Amaranthus Paniculata.

Here is a link that might be useful: pic of one third of the area it is currently covering.

I have this plant/weed growing in my yard as well Mr Brown Thumb...any advice on whether to erradicate it now? I find it kind of pretty...