Heirloom

Audray White

Gomphrena globosa

Photo: Donald A Hunter, John D Fletcher, Kevin M Davies, and Huaibi Zhang · Wikimedia Commons · (CC BY 2.5)

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 White in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 flower →

Zone Map

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Audray White · Zones 2–11

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing12-18 inches

SoilWell-draining, average fertility

WaterModerate; drought tolerant once established

SeasonWarm season annual

ColorWhite

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

Audray White takes 95–110 days to first harvest and keeps producing blooms until frost cuts it down, so a single sowing carries the whole season. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost date — late February to early March in zone 7 — or direct sow after soil temperatures reach 60°F in April. There's no real benefit to staggering sowings the way you would with lettuce or radishes. One well-timed planting is all you need.

Complete Growing Guide

1 1/2" blooms on long stems and uniform plants. Sturdy white blooms are an excellent special detail in wedding design work and boutonnieres, in addition to wholesale and market bouquets. Also known as globe amaranth and common globe amaranth. According to Johnny's Selected Seeds, Audray White 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 White 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

For fresh cut stems, store upright in a vase with cool water at 65-72°F in a cool room away from direct sunlight and ripening fruit. Change water every 2-3 days; blooms last 2-3 weeks in the vase. For preservation, hang-dry bundles upside down in a dark, well-ventilated area for 1-2 weeks to create long-lasting dried flowers. Alternatively, use silica gel to dry individual blooms within 3-5 days for wedding arrangements. A third option is pressing blooms between parchment paper under weight for 1-2 weeks for flat, decorative use in cards or crafts.

History & Origin

Audray White 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

+Perfect white blooms ideal for wedding and special event floral design work
+Long stems make Audray White excellent for professional bouquets and arrangements
+Uniform plant growth ensures consistent quality for wholesale and market sales
+Easy to grow variety requires minimal expertise even for beginner gardeners
+Sturdy blooms hold up well and maintain freshness in cut flower applications

Considerations

-Long growing season of 95-110 days limits production cycles per year
-Sensitive to overwatering which can cause root rot in poorly drained soil
-Small bloom size of 1.5 inches may require more stems per arrangement
-Heat and humidity preference makes cultivation challenging in cool climates

Companion Plants

Marigolds and sweet alyssum are the two companions worth planting close to Audray White. French marigolds (the 'Bonanza' series works well) push back aphids and whiteflies through their scent, and they pull in predatory insects that patrol the surrounding bed. Sweet alyssum at the base of gomphrena does something more targeted — its small flowers are sized right for parasitic wasps and hoverflies, which will work aphid colonies on the gomphrena stems before pressure builds into something you have to spray for. Cosmos and zinnias make decent neighbors too, mostly because they share similar heat and water needs, so you're not juggling conflicting care routines in the same row.

Keep Audray White away from black walnut. The roots and decomposing hulls release juglone into the surrounding soil, and gomphrena is sensitive enough that it's not a gamble worth taking anywhere near a mature tree. Fennel is a subtler problem: its roots produce allelopathic compounds that suppress nearby plants, and it has a reputation as a bad neighbor across most ornamental beds — not just with gomphrena.

Plant Together

Marigolds

Repel aphids, whiteflies, and nematodes while attracting beneficial insects

Nasturtiums

Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles, protecting nearby plants

Sweet Alyssum

Attracts beneficial insects like lacewings and parasitic wasps for pest control

Lavender

Repels moths, fleas, and mosquitoes while attracting pollinators

Petunias

Natural pest deterrent against aphids, hornworms, and squash bugs

Zinnia

Attracts ladybugs and other beneficial predatory insects

Cosmos

Attracts beneficial insects and provides structural diversity in garden beds

Catnip

Repels ants, aphids, and flea beetles more effectively than DEET

Keep Apart

Black Walnut

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

Eucalyptus

Allelopathic compounds in leaves suppress growth of nearby plants

Sunflowers

Compete aggressively for nutrients and water, may inhibit growth of smaller flowers

Fennel

Releases allelopathic compounds that inhibit germination and growth of most garden plants

Troubleshooting Audray White

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

Seedlings damping off at soil level — stem pinches to a thread, then the plant topples, usually within the first 2 weeks after germination

Likely Causes

Pythium or Rhizoctonia fungi — both thrive in cool, wet, poorly-drained starting mix
Overwatering or trays sitting in standing water

What to Do

1.Use a sterile seed-starting mix, not garden soil, and make sure trays drain freely
2.Water from the bottom and let the surface dry slightly between waterings
3.If it spreads to neighboring cells, pull the affected seedlings immediately and improve airflow with a small fan

Leaves developing gray or white powdery coating, usually showing up in late summer when nights cool down

Likely Causes

Powdery mildew (Erysiphe or Golovinomyces spp.) — fungal spores spread by wind, favored by high humidity with dry leaf surfaces
Crowded spacing under 12 inches that blocks air circulation

What to Do

1.Space plants at least 12 inches apart — Audray White tolerates tighter rows fine until mildew pressure hits, and by then it's too late to fix
2.Apply a diluted neem oil spray (2 tsp per quart of water) every 7-10 days at first sign
3.Remove and bag heavily coated leaves; don't compost them

Stunted growth with distorted, curling new leaves and a sticky residue on stems, showing up in spring or early fall flushes

Likely Causes

Aphid colonies (commonly Myzus persicae or related species) clustering on tender growing tips
Ant activity nearby — ants farm aphids and will actively move them to fresh growth to protect their food source

What to Do

1.Knock aphids off with a firm stream of water; repeat every 2-3 days for two weeks
2.Plant sweet alyssum nearby — its nectar feeds parasitic wasp adults, which lay eggs in aphids and collapse colonies fast
3.If the infestation is heavy, apply insecticidal soap directly to the colonies; avoid spraying in full midday sun to prevent leaf burn

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do Audray White globe amaranth flowers last in a vase?▼

Audray White blooms typically last 2-3 weeks in fresh water when kept in a cool location away from direct sunlight. Changing the water every 2-3 days and trimming the stems slightly helps extend vase life. They are also excellent candidates for drying, which preserves them for several months in arrangements.

Can you grow Audray White in containers?▼

Yes, Audray White globe amaranth thrives in containers with well-draining soil. Use pots at least 6-8 inches deep for uniform growth. Container growing works especially well for commercial florists and market growers who want to control plant height and bloom density for consistent bouquet-quality stems.

Is Audray White globe amaranth good for beginner flower growers?▼

Absolutely. Audray White is rated as an easy-grow heirloom variety and is ideal for beginners. It requires full sun to partial shade (4-6+ hours), tolerates average soil conditions, and produces sturdy, uniform plants with minimal fussing. Its reliable performance makes it perfect for wedding florists and market growers new to cut flower production.

When should I plant Audray White globe amaranth seeds?▼

Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost, or direct sow after all frost danger has passed and soil warms. Germination typically occurs in 7-14 days. Plants need warm soil temperatures to thrive, so waiting until late spring ensures better establishment and fuller plants by harvest time (95-110 days).

What makes Audray White globe amaranth special for wedding floristry?▼

Audray White produces sturdy 1½-inch blooms on exceptionally long, uniform stems—perfect for wedding designs, boutonnieres, and high-quality market bouquets. The pure white color and globe-shaped flower form offer elegant detail work, while reliable plant uniformity ensures consistent bloom availability throughout the season.