Globe amaranth is an annual bedding plant that grows 1-2 ft tall with a spread of about 1 ft. The branched stems are erect and stiff and the plant has a bushy appearance. The leaves are opposite, oblong, 4-6 in long, and wooly-white when young, becoming sparsely white-hairy as they age. Flowers are globular in shape, but actually consist of numerous individual flowers. The most common color is magenta, but there are also white and pale mauve varieties. Gomphrena tolerates poor soils, heat and drought, and was once a favorite in British gardens.