Buddy Purple Globe amaranth

Buddy Purple is a very compact globe amaranth with violet-purple, papery flower heads held above a low, bushy mound. Its small scale suits the front of a sunny bed and containers where the rounded blooms can be seen up close. ## Growing conditions Give it full sun and soil that drains freely. Benary describes Buddy Purple as heat and drought tolerant, though young plants establish best with regular watering. The breeder lists a mature height near 6 inches; an Auckland Botanic Gardens trial measured plants around 14 cm tall and 18 cm wide, so size can vary with climate and growing conditions. Avoid keeping the root zone soggy. ## Garden use and flowers Use Buddy Purple along an edging, in mixed containers, or as a compact cut flower. Its globe-shaped flower heads are made mostly of colorful bracts, and they can be cut for fresh arrangements or dried. It flowers through warm weather; the species is generally described as blooming from summer into frost. See [Benary's Buddy Purple growing information](https://www.benary.com/products/gomphrena-globosa-buddy/buddy-purple-gg0203r) and the [Auckland Botanic Gardens cultivar trial](https://www.aucklandbotanicgardens.co.nz/science/research/articles/gomphrena-for-mass-plantings/) for selection-specific details. ## Maintenance Keep moisture even while plants establish, then water during prolonged dry spells. No routine shaping is needed; remove stems only when harvesting or clearing the annual bed at season's end.