Heirloom

Raspberry Cream

Gomphrena globosa

Photo: Forest & Kim Starr · Wikimedia Commons · (CC BY 3.0)

Uniform, productive plants. Very similar to QIS™ Pink but with a darker, richer color. 1 1/2" blooms. Also known as globe amaranth and common globe amaranth.

Harvest

85-100d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun to partial shade

☀️

Zones

2–11

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

12-24 inches

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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 Raspberry Cream in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 flower →

Zone Map

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Raspberry Cream · Zones 2–11

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

SeasonWarm season annual

ColorDeep raspberry to cream

Size1 1/2"

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
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	—
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	—

Succession Planting

Gomphrena is a cut-and-come-again flower, but it doesn't behave like lettuce — you won't get a flush of new plants from a single sowing. Each plant just keeps blooming if you keep cutting, so succession here means staggering your sowings to extend the cutting window and protect against a bad germination batch. Start seeds indoors in February or March (soil temp 70–75°F), direct sow again in April, and put in one more round in late May. That spreads your plants across different maturity stages through the summer.

Stop direct sowing by early June in zone 7. Seeds started after that germinate fine, but the plants won't reach the 85–100 day mark before frost cuts them down. Your May sowing is the one that carries you into October — don't skip it.

Complete Growing Guide

Uniform, productive plants. Very similar to QIS™ Pink but with a darker, richer color. 1 1/2" blooms. Also known as globe amaranth and common globe amaranth. According to Johnny's Selected Seeds, Raspberry Cream is 85 - 100 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

Raspberry Cream reaches harvest at 85 - 100 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 blooms, store in a cool location (60-65°F) with moderate humidity. Raspberry Cream flowers last 1-2 weeks in a vase with fresh water changed every 2-3 days. For longer preservation, dry flowers by hanging bundles upside down in a dark, well-ventilated space for 2-3 weeks, creating long-lasting dried arrangements. Alternatively, press flowers between heavy books or parchment paper for 1-2 weeks to preserve them flat for crafts. Freeze flowers in ice cubes with water for decorative use in beverages.

History & Origin

Raspberry Cream 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

+Uniform growth habit makes planning garden layouts straightforward and predictable
+Productive blooming ensures continuous flowers throughout the 85-100 day season
+Darker, richer raspberry color provides distinctive visual appeal versus similar varieties
+1.5 inch blooms offer substantial size for cutting and arrangement purposes
+Easy difficulty level suits beginner and experienced gardeners equally well

Considerations

-Requires warm temperatures; struggles in cool or short growing seasons
-Globular blooms may shatter or deteriorate quickly in heavy rain
-Globe amaranth typically attracts spider mites in hot, dry conditions

Companion Plants

Marigolds (especially Tagetes patula) and zinnias make practical neighbors for Raspberry Cream — they pull in predatory wasps and hoverflies that knock back aphid populations, and all three want the same full-sun, warm-season conditions, so you're not juggling conflicting needs. Sweet alyssum planted at the bed edges does similar work, drawing beneficial insects with its small flowers while staying low enough not to shade the gomphrena. In our zone 7 Georgia gardens, cosmos pairs naturally too: both are cut-and-come-again, both go in after last frost, and a mixed row gives you something worth harvesting every few days from July into October.

Black walnut is the clearest plant to avoid nearby. It produces juglone — a chemical that leaches from roots and decomposing hulls into surrounding soil — and while gomphrena isn't as dramatically sensitive as tomatoes, the stunted growth isn't worth finding out about firsthand. Fennel is the other one to keep well separated; it releases compounds that broadly suppress nearby annuals, and it doesn't play well with much of anything in a cutting garden. Put fennel in its own corner and leave it there.

Plant Together

Marigolds

Repel aphids, whiteflies, and nematodes while attracting beneficial insects

Sweet Alyssum

Attracts beneficial insects like lacewings and provides ground cover

Nasturtiums

Act as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, attract pollinators

Lavender

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

Petunias

Repel aphids, tomato hornworms, and squash bugs

Cosmos

Attract beneficial insects and provide structural support

Zinnias

Attract pollinators and beneficial predatory insects like ladybugs

Catmint

Repels ants, aphids, and rodents while attracting beneficial pollinators

Keep Apart

Black Walnut

Produces juglone toxin that inhibits growth and can kill sensitive plants

Eucalyptus

Releases allelopathic compounds that suppress nearby plant growth

Fennel

Inhibits growth of most garden plants through allelopathy

Troubleshooting Raspberry Cream

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

Seedlings damping off at soil level — stem pinches to a thread, plant collapses — in the first 2 weeks after germination

Likely Causes

Pythium or Rhizoctonia fungi thriving in overly wet, poorly drained seed-starting mix
Trays kept too cool (below 70°F) slowing germination while pathogens stay active

What to Do

1.Use a fresh, sterile seed-starting mix — not garden soil or old potting mix from last year
2.Keep soil temps between 70–75°F with a heat mat and don't water again until the top of the mix is dry to the touch
3.If damping off appears, pull the affected seedlings immediately and improve airflow with a small fan on low

Leaves develop pale, stippled patches and you can see fine webbing on the undersides, usually in hot dry spells

Likely Causes

Two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) — populations explode when temps exceed 90°F and humidity is low
Plants stressed from underwatering, which makes them more susceptible

What to Do

1.Spray the undersides of leaves forcefully with water every 2–3 days to knock mites off and disrupt their life cycle
2.Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil in the evening — not in full afternoon sun — and repeat every 5–7 days for 3 applications
3.Keep plants adequately watered during heat stretches; drought-stressed gomphrena draws mites faster

Stems and leaves covered in a white powdery coating late in the season, usually August onward

Likely Causes

Powdery mildew (Erysiphe or Golovinomyces species) — airborne fungal spores that spread in warm days with cool nights and poor airflow
Overcrowded planting that prevents air circulation between plants

What to Do

1.Space plants at least 12 inches apart — closer than that and you're asking for trouble in a humid summer
2.Apply a baking soda spray (1 tablespoon baking soda + 1 teaspoon dish soap per gallon of water) at first sign, weekly
3.Late-season mildew on gomphrena is mostly cosmetic; if the plant is still throwing blooms, just keep cutting

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do Raspberry Cream flowers last once cut?▼

Raspberry Cream flowers can last 1-2 weeks in a vase when placed in fresh water and kept in a cool location. Change the water every 2-3 days and re-cut stem ends slightly to promote water absorption. Removing lower foliage also helps prevent bacterial growth and extends vase life.

Is Raspberry Cream globe amaranth good for beginner gardeners?▼

Yes, Raspberry Cream is excellent for beginners. It's classified as an easy-to-grow variety that requires minimal maintenance. The plants are uniform and productive, thriving in full sun to partial shade with basic care. It's a forgiving heirloom variety perfect for those new to growing ornamental flowers.

Can you grow Raspberry Cream in containers?▼

Yes, Raspberry Cream can be successfully grown in containers. Use well-draining potting soil and select a pot with adequate drainage holes. Container-grown plants may need more frequent watering during hot weather, but the compact growth habit makes them ideal for patios, balconies, and indoor arrangements.

What color are Raspberry Cream flowers?▼

Raspberry Cream produces flowers in a darker, richer color compared to similar varieties like QIS Pink. The blooms are globe-shaped and approximately 1.5 inches in diameter, displaying a deep raspberry to cream tone that makes them visually striking in gardens and floral arrangements.

When should I plant Raspberry Cream seeds?▼

Start Raspberry Cream seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost date, or direct sow after the danger of frost has passed. Seeds germinate best in warm conditions (70-75°F). Transplant seedlings outdoors once soil has warmed and frost risk is eliminated, spacing them appropriately for air circulation.

How long does it take Raspberry Cream to bloom?▼

Raspberry Cream takes 85-100 days from planting to reach full flowering maturity. This timeline applies when plants are started from seed and grown under optimal conditions with adequate sunlight, regular watering, and proper spacing. Earlier blooms may appear as the plants develop.