Seeds were first planted by Jefferson at Shadwell, his boyhood home, on April 2, 1767. It is a tender annual best suited for a sunny, well-drained site. Globe Amaranth has clover-like flowers in magenta, pink, and occasionally white. A native of the Old World tropics, this plant thrives in hot, dry weather and the long-lasting flowers are superb for dried arrangements. Seeds can be started indoors in pots or sown directly into well-prepared garden loam after the last spring frost.
Globe Amaranth was first introduced into Europe from India in 1714 and was grown in Virginia by John Custis of Williamsburg as early as 1737. It is still one of the most asked-about flowers in the Monticello gardens.