Buddy Purple with foliage in a glass vase on a white background.
Buddy Purple Gomphrena tea in a glass teapot surrounded by blooms on a darker background.
Buddy Purple Gomphrena arranged in a cast iron Japanese teapot on a light background.
Buddy Purple with foliage in a glass vase on a white background.
Buddy Purple Gomphrena tea in a glass teapot surrounded by blooms on a darker background.
Buddy Purple Gomphrena arranged in a cast iron Japanese teapot on a light background.

Gomphrena Seeds,
Buddy Purple

4.47 ReviewsSKU: #FL408Min. seed count: 25
Price
Regular price $3.50
Regular price $0.00 Sale price $3.50
Save $-3.50
/
FREE SHIPPING IN THE U.S.A.
Faster shipping options also available.
Description

Add an everlasting pop of purple with this super dwarf gomphrena! The plants are short and stout, standing just 8 to 10 inches tall and about as wide. An exceptionally easy-to-grow ornamental, these plants are heat and drought tolerant and blooms last extra long for low-maintenance color. Gomphrena is a top flower for arrangements, as it is everlasting with strong stems and tidy, 1-inch round heads. A favorite for weaving into flower crowns!

Growing Tips: Plants are considered quite heat and drought tolerant. Plants prefer well-drained soil. 

Plant Details

Botanical Name
Gomphrena globosa
Life Cycle
Annual
Sun Requirement
Full sun
Days to Germinate
7–14
Days to Maturity
85–100
Planting Depth
⅛–¼ in.
Plant Spacing
10 in.
Ideal Temperature
70–78°F
Frost Hardy
No

When to Grow

Buddy Purple is the super dwarf of the group, so it is worth starting early if you want the edging filled in: sow indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last frost date and transplant the seedlings outdoors after all chance of frost has passed, or direct seed outdoors after the last frost. It is a touch slower off the mark than the taller gomphrenas, germinating in 7 to 14 days at an ideal germination temperature of 70 to 75°F; grow the plants on at 70 to 78°F. They are not frost hardy, and they need 85 to 100 days from sowing to maturity, finishing at just 8 to 10 inches tall.

How to Sow and Plant

  • Seeds germinate in 14-21 days.
  • Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost and transplant out after all chance of frost has passed, or direct seed outdoors after last frost.
  • Ideal germination temperature is 70-75 F.

How to Grow

  • Plants prefer full sun.
  • Plants are considered quite heat and drought tolerant.
  • Plants prefer well-drained soil.
  • Space plants 6-8 inches apart.

PESTS/SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

  • A generally pest-free plant.
  • Plants will suffer from oedema if overwatered consistently.

How to Save Seeds

  • Pollinated by bees, butterflies and other insects.
  • Allow the flowerhead containing the seeds to mature completely and dry on the plant, then clip it off and place it in a container.
  • Working over the top of another clean, opened container, rub the flowerheads between the palms, breaking them apart.
  • The seeds can be separated from the chaff by first screening and then winnowing.
  • Store in a cool, dry, dark place over winter.

FAQ

How big does Buddy Purple get?

This super dwarf gomphrena is short and stout, standing just 8 to 10 inches tall and about as wide.

How often should I water Buddy Purple?

These plants are heat and drought tolerant and prefer well-drained soil. Avoid watering heavily and consistently, as gomphrena will suffer from oedema if it is overwatered.

How deep and how far apart do I plant Buddy Purple seeds?

Sow 1/8 to 1/4 inch deep and space plants 10 inches apart in full sun, which gives each dwarf plant just enough room to reach its full width. Gomphrena is generally a pest-free plant.

Customer reviews

4.4 / 5 7 Reviews

What gardeners are saying

  • Striking purple: Bold, striking purple that neighbors stop to talk about.

  • Blooms until frost: Flowers all summer into fall with no deadheading.

  • Tidy, compact plants: Low dwarf habit that looks great massed or layered with taller kinds.

  • Plant and forget: Easy and low-care; several are planting more next year.

  • Growing tips: Needs warm soil; slow in cool spots and direct sowing can fail.

You may also like