Heirloom

Audray Purple-Red

Gomphrena globosa

Photo: Greg Peterson · Wikimedia Commons · (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Harvest

95-110d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun to partial shade

☀️

Zones

2–11

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

12-24 inches

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Showing dates for Audray Purple-Red in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 flower →

Zone Map

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Audray Purple-Red · Zones 2–11

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing12-18 inches

SoilWell-drained, not particularly demanding

WaterModerate; tolerates dry conditions once established

SeasonWarm season annual

ColorPurple-red

Size1 1/2"

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 1	May – June	July – August	July – September	—
Zone 2	April – May	June – July	June – August	—
Zone 11	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 12	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 13	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 3	April – May	June – July	June – August	—
Zone 4	March – April	June – June	June – July	—
Zone 5	March – April	May – June	May – July	—
Zone 6	March – April	May – June	May – July	—
Zone 7	February – March	April – May	April – June	—
Zone 8	February – March	April – May	April – June	—
Zone 9	January – February	March – April	March – May	—
Zone 10	January – January	February – March	February – April	—

Succession Planting

Gomphrena blooms continuously from a single sowing once it gets going, so strict succession planting isn't necessary. If you're growing Audray for cut flowers and want a staggered harvest window, direct sow a second round 3–4 weeks after your first, but stop by late June in zone 7 — plants started after that won't clear the 95–110 day mark before frost shuts things down. Start seeds indoors in February or March at a soil temperature around 70°F; expect germination in 7–14 days. Drop below that temperature range and germination gets patchy and drags on for weeks.

Complete Growing Guide

Audray Purple-Red is very similar to QIS™ Purple in terms of productivity and the bloom color is identical. Slightly later to flower and taller than QIS Purple.1 1/2" blooms. Also known as globe amaranth and common globe amaranth. According to Johnny's Selected Seeds, Audray Purple-Red is 95 - 110 days to maturity, annual, open pollinated. Notable features: Grows Well in Containers, Use for Cut Flowers and Bouquets, Ideal for Drying and Crafts.

Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Drainage: Good Drainage, Occasionally Dry. Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: Less than 12 inches. Growth rate: Medium. Maintenance: Low. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.

Harvesting

Audray Purple-Red reaches harvest at 95 - 110 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. Expect 1 1/2" at peak. As an annual, harvest continues until frost ends the season.

This is an ornamental variety — not grown for harvest. Enjoy in the garden landscape.

Storage & Preservation

Audray Purple-Red blooms can be stored fresh by placing stems in a vase with clean water at room temperature (65-72°F) away from direct sunlight. Change water every 2-3 days for optimal longevity; stems typically last 10-14 days. For preservation, dry flowers by hanging bundles upside-down in a warm, dark, well-ventilated area for 2-3 weeks. Alternatively, press flowers between newspaper and heavy books for 2-4 weeks for flat-dried arrangements. Silica gel drying offers rapid preservation in 3-5 days while maintaining vibrant purple-red color.

History & Origin

Audray Purple-Red is open-pollinated, meaning seed saved from healthy plants will produce true-to-type offspring. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.

Origin: Mexico to Brazil

Advantages

+Produces abundant blooms comparable to QIS Purple productivity levels
+Distinctive purple-red flowers remain identical in color to QIS Purple
+Grows taller than QIS Purple for improved garden visibility
+Blooms reliably within 95-110 days for predictable flowering timing
+Extremely easy to grow making it ideal for beginners

Considerations

-Flowers slightly later than QIS Purple delaying bloom season onset
-Excessive height may require staking or support in windy conditions
-Gomphrena susceptible to root rot in poorly draining wet soil

Companion Plants

Marigolds (Tagetes spp.) and Salvia are the most useful neighbors — marigolds deter whiteflies and root-knot nematodes through root exudates, while Salvia pulls in pollinators that also work gomphrena's clover-like heads. Sweet Alyssum stays low at 6–8 inches and doesn't compete for light; its small flowers attract parasitic wasps that keep aphid counts down. Skip planting near Black Walnut — the juglone leaching from its roots can stunt or kill nearby annuals — and give Eucalyptus a wide berth too, since its allelopathic compounds suppress germination and establishment in surrounding plants.

Plant Together

Marigolds

Repel nematodes, aphids, and other pests while attracting beneficial insects

Sweet Alyssum

Attracts beneficial insects like lacewings and provides ground cover to retain soil moisture

Nasturtiums

Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles while repelling squash bugs

Zinnia

Attracts butterflies and beneficial pollinators, extends bloom season

Lavender

Repels moths, fleas, and mosquitoes while attracting bees and butterflies

Catmint

Deters ants, aphids, and rodents while attracting beneficial pollinators

Cosmos

Attracts beneficial insects and provides habitat for predatory insects

Salvia

Repels pests and attracts hummingbirds and beneficial pollinators

Keep Apart

Black Walnut

Produces juglone toxin that inhibits growth and can kill sensitive flowering plants

Eucalyptus

Releases allelopathic compounds that suppress growth of nearby plants

Sunflowers

Release allelopathic chemicals and compete aggressively for nutrients and water

Troubleshooting Audray Purple-Red

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Seedlings collapsing at the soil line, stems look pinched or water-soaked at the base

Likely Causes

Damping off (Pythium or Rhizoctonia spp.) — triggered by wet, poorly drained seed-starting mix
Overwatering during germination, especially in low-light conditions indoors

What to Do

1.Toss the affected seedlings and any visibly wet mix around them — they won't recover
2.Water only when the top of the mix is dry, and bottom-water rather than pouring over the top
3.Use a sterile, well-draining seed-starting medium and make sure trays aren't sitting in standing water

Leaves developing powdery white coating, usually on upper leaf surfaces, in mid to late summer

Likely Causes

Powdery mildew (Erysiphe spp.) — more common in humid conditions with poor airflow
Plants spaced too close together, especially under 12 inches apart

What to Do

1.Space plants at least 12 inches apart — 18 is better if your summers are humid
2.Apply a dilute baking soda solution (1 tablespoon per gallon of water) or a potassium bicarbonate fungicide at first sign
3.Avoid overhead irrigation in the evening; water at the base in the morning

Distorted or curled new leaves; small clusters of soft-bodied insects visible on stems or leaf undersides, growth noticeably stunted

Likely Causes

Aphid infestation (likely Myzus persicae or Aphis gossypii) — common on overfertilized plants pushing soft new growth
Excess nitrogen making foliage more attractive to feeding insects

What to Do

1.Knock aphids off with a firm stream of water — do this in the morning so foliage dries quickly
2.Spray with insecticidal soap if populations are heavy; coat the undersides of leaves, not just the tops
3.Cut back on nitrogen — gomphrena is a light feeder and doesn't need much pushing

No blooms by day 100+, plants look healthy and leafy but flower heads aren't forming

Likely Causes

Insufficient sun — Audray Purple-Red needs at least 6 hours of direct light to bloom reliably
Overly rich soil or high-nitrogen fertilizer pushing vegetative growth instead of flowers
Late transplanting — plants that went in after mid-May in zone 7 can run out of warm-season days before hitting 95–110 days to flower

What to Do

1.Move container plants to a sunnier spot; if in-ground, mark the location and plan to relocate next season
2.Skip high-nitrogen formulas once plants are established — a balanced 10-10-10 at transplant is enough for the season
3.Pinch off any developing but stalled heads to redirect the plant's energy toward new flower stems

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do Audray Purple-Red blooms last in a vase?▼

With proper care, Audray Purple-Red flowers last 10-14 days when placed in fresh water at room temperature. Replace water every 2-3 days and re-cut stems by a quarter inch to improve water absorption. Remove any foliage below the waterline to prevent bacterial growth. Keep arrangements away from direct sunlight and ripening fruit, which releases ethylene gas that shortens bloom life.

Can you grow Audray Purple-Red in containers?▼

Yes, Audray Purple-Red grows well in containers. Use quality potting soil and ensure pots have drainage holes to prevent waterlogging. A 6-8 inch pot is sufficient for a single plant. Place containers in full sun to partial shade (4-6+ hours daily) and water consistently. Container-grown plants may be slightly more compact than ground-planted specimens due to root restrictions.

When should I plant Audray Purple-Red seeds?▼

Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost date for better results, or direct sow after all frost danger has passed. Transplant seedlings outdoors once soil has warmed. Audray Purple-Red typically takes 95-110 days to harvest from transplant. In warmer climates (zones 10+), you can sow directly outdoors when soil temperatures reach 60°F.

Is Audray Purple-Red good for beginners?▼

Yes, Audray Purple-Red is excellent for beginners due to its easy growing difficulty. It tolerates 4-6+ hours of sun and doesn't require special soil conditions. The variety is heat and humidity tolerant, making it forgiving for new gardeners. It produces abundant blooms reliably and requires minimal care once established, making it ideal for learning flower gardening fundamentals.

What's the difference between Audray Purple-Red and QIS Purple?▼

Audray Purple-Red and QIS Purple are very similar in productivity and bloom color. The main differences are that Audray Purple-Red flowers slightly later and grows taller than QIS Purple. Both produce 1.5-inch globe-shaped blooms and offer comparable reliability, so your choice may depend on available space and desired timing within your growing season.

How far apart should Audray Purple-Red plants be spaced?▼

Space Audray Purple-Red plants 12-18 inches apart to allow for mature plant width and air circulation. Proper spacing prevents overcrowding, reduces disease risk, and ensures each plant receives adequate sunlight. Closer spacing in containers is acceptable if managing water carefully, but garden plantings benefit from generous spacing for optimal bloom production.