Amaranthus caudatus has been cultivated for its extraordinary flower spikes for centuries. The specific epithet caudatus means tailed in Latin, an apt description for the pendulous plumes that can trail eighteen inches or more from branching stems reaching three to five feet tall. The drooping inflorescences are typically crimson-red, though gold-flowered forms exist, and they maintain their color and texture long after cutting, making this one of the most reliable plants for both fresh and dried arrangements. The genus name Amaranthus comes from the Greek for unfading, and in this species the claim holds for months.

Grown as an annual across zones 2 through 11, Love-Lies Bleeding is set out after the last frost date, into moist, well-drained soil with full sun. It establishes quickly and begins flowering in summer, continuing without pause until the first hard freeze. The plant shows good drought tolerance once established, useful in the increasingly hot summers of much of its growing range. Hanging baskets make excellent use of the pendulous habit, though the plant is large enough to anchor a border just as well. In the cutting garden it is indispensable, offering a scale and drama that few other annuals can match.