THE FOLKLORE OF PLANTS: Love Lies Bleeding

Lisa Karen Miller

“And love lies bleeding in my hand

Oh it kills me to think of you with another man.”

Elton John

          Long before Elton John immortalized the name of this beautiful flower in song, the Victorians claimed it stood for hopelessness, especially in love. In the language of flowers, it says “hopeless not heartless.”

          It has a surprisingly violent history.

          One dark tale relates that the Aztecs mixed the seeds of Amaranthus caudatus (Greek for unfading tail) with human blood.  This dough was formed into the shapes of their gods, then eaten ceremonially. This religious sacrament was documented in a letter by Hernando Cortes, the Spanish conquistador whose expedition caused the fall of the Aztec empire and brought much of Mexico under Spanish rule. Horrified by this practice, he supposedly outlawed cultivation of amaranth under penalty of death.

Love Lies Bleeding is so named because of its appearance – it resembles veins that are oozing blood. Other common names for amaranth around the world are Inca Wheat, Tassel Flower, Lamb’s Quarters, Pigweed, Thrumwort, Velvet Flower, and Callaloo. 

          In addition to being a beautiful garden flower, Love Lies Bleeding is a cultivated food crop.  Its seeds, which are used as a grain, can be heated and popped like popcorn, or used as a breakfast cereal. The young leaves are eaten by Ethiopians, and they use the seeds to make porridge and beer. In China, leaves and stems are used in stir fries.

          In Ecuador, the popped seeds are made into a medicinal horchata to treat flu symptoms and ease inflammation. They also boil the flowers, then add the colored water to rum to create a drink that purifies the blood. Amaranth has more protein than milk or soybeans.

          Compounds derived from this plant show potential for treating arteriosclerosis, pain, and fever. The seeds provide antioxidants and lower cholesterol.

          In the garden, Love Lies Bleeding is an annual that reseeds heavily, with each plant growing from two to seven feet and producing up to 50,000 seeds. Simply leave it in place after frost.  If you want it elsewhere, plant some of the dried seed heads there.  It is generally low maintenance, but is subject to fungus, so don’t keep the soil too wet. Because the flowers retain their shape and color when dried, they are often used in dried flower arrangements.

          Lastly, Love Lies Bleeding is used in spells to repair a broken heart.

          Don’t despair – there’s always hope for love.

© Copyright 2023 Lisa Karen Miller