Gomphrena globosa (Bachelor’s Button)

Gomphrena, sometimes called globe amaranth or bachelor’s button, is a sun-loving, drought tolerant annual plant. I think might be the “All Around Purple” variety. These intense magenta-pinkish purple flowers are tiny, no more than an inch in diameter—making them a bit of a challenge to photograph. Just imagine paired this color with lime green foliage! Although they were too quick to photograph, there was a bounty of skipper and sulphur butterflies darting through this bank of Gomphrena at Green Spring Gardens this afternoon.

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

Blooming in the garden today…

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved. www.cindydyer.com/GardenPhotos

Top photo: Osteospermum Sunscape Daisy (Osteospermum ecklonis). Originating from South Africa, these daisy-like flowers come in a wide range of colors and in my Zone 7 region they are grown as annuals. In milder climates, they can be grown as perennials. For more information about Osteospermum, visit: http://www.osteospermum.com/

Bottom photo: Perennial Cornflower or Mountain Bluet (Centaurea montana) against a blue glazed pot background. It is a perennial form of Bachelor’s Button and blooms late spring to midsummer. It self-seeds and prefers moist soil in sun or partial shade, and can be divided in the fall.