Botanical Name: Gomphrena haageana ‘Strawberry Fields’

Common Name: Gomphrena, Globe Amaranth

Hardiness Zone: Annual in Most Climates (Perennial in Zones 9–11)

Size: 18–24" Tall × 12–18" Spread

Growth Habit: Upright, Well-Branched, Slightly Airy Habit

Sunlight: Full Sun

Soil: Prefers Well-Drained Soil; Tolerates Poor, Sandy, or Lean Soils

Water Needs: Low to Moderate; Highly Drought Tolerant Once Established

Bloom Season: Late Spring through Frost

Fertilizer: Minimal; Avoid Excess Nitrogen to Prevent Excess Foliage at the Expense of Blooms

Features: Bright Red, Clover-Like Blooms with Golden Accents, Excellent Heat and Drought Tolerance, Long-Lasting Flowers, Pollinator Friendly, Excellent for Cutting and Drying

Uses: Ideal for Landscape Beds, Pollinator Gardens, Cottage Gardens, Mass Plantings, and Fresh or Dried Flower Arrangements

Patent: ❌ Not Patented

Propagation: ✔ Commonly Grown from Seed

See our complete Gomphrena Growth & Care Guide for more in depth care details.

More About Gomprhena 'Strawberry Fields'

‘Strawberry Fields’ has a completely different presence in the garden compared to other Gomphrenas. The blooms are a bold, strawberry-red with tiny golden tips, giving them a warm, almost glowing look in full sun. Instead of being perfectly round like Ping Pong or Gnome, the flower heads are slightly elongated and more textured, which gives the plant a looser, more natural feel. The stems rise higher too, creating an airy, meadow-like effect rather than a compact mound. When planted in drifts, it feels like red sparks floating just above the foliage.

This variety brings height and movement without becoming unruly. It branches well from the base and sends up steady waves of blooms from Late Spring through frost. The foliage stays clean and resilient even during dry stretches, and the plant never seems to stall when temperatures climb. It looks right at home in cottage gardens, pollinator beds, and cutting gardens where that slightly wild character is a benefit rather than a drawback.

Why We Like It (Our Trials)

In our Zone 8a trials, ‘Strawberry Fields’ has been one of the most heat-tolerant annuals on the property. We have grown it in open beds with lean soil and relentless afternoon sun, and it simply does not blink. When many annuals slow down in August, this one continues pushing bloom after bloom. The taller stems also held up surprisingly well through wind and summer storms without collapsing. It maintains structure without staking, which I always appreciate.

What really sets it apart for me is how valuable it is as a cut flower. The stems are long enough for bouquets, and the blooms hold beautifully fresh or dried without losing that rich red tone. Pollinators absolutely love it, especially bees working the blooms through the hottest part of the day. In mass plantings, the repeated red tones create a strong visual rhythm that carries across a bed. It is bold, resilient, and incredibly productive, which is why it has remained a staple in my Summer garden year after year.

'Strawberry Fields' vs. Other Gomphrenas

When compared to Gnome Purple, Strawberry Fields stands taller and feels freer. The blooms are more elongated with those little golden tips, and the stems weave upward in a way that feels less structured and more meadow-inspired. Gnome Purple is precise and controlled, while Strawberry Fields feels expressive and a little wild in a good way. If I need clean repetition along an edge, I reach for Gnome. If I want movement and warmth rising through the bed, Strawberry Fields gets the call.

Ping Pong Purple is symmetrical and graphic, and all about perfectly round blooms and a balanced mound. Truffula Pink brings height and bold hot pink globes that command attention in the mid-border. Strawberry Fields sits right between those two worlds. It has the height and presence to compete with Truffula Pink, but the flower shape and warm red tone give it a softer, cottage-garden character. It does not feel as polished as Ping Pong or as punchy as Truffula. It feels natural, sun-loving, and incredibly at home in pollinator beds where a little looseness makes the whole planting breathe.