What is this????
 

HI all, this is my first time posting in the gardening forum. I love my gardens but this year a strange plant/flower showed up, one that I have never seen before. It is really pretty and I think it is only an annual so I would like to plant it again next year if I could only find out what it is. It is about 6 feet tall and has huge purple leaves and a cool looking flower I have a few pictures that I have taken so if you have any idea I would be glad to hear it. Thanks so much.

Here is a close up of the flower:

Looks like an astilbe to me, here is a pic of one [url]http://www.horticopia.com/hortpix/html/pb1443.htm[/url]
They come in MANY colours and sizes, just check out the site. I think the're beautiful.

Doesn't look like an astilbe to me.

it's a red pot plant..

no it's actually a Amaranth aka a Purple Amaranth aka a Mexican Grain Amaranth , same family as the tassle like Love-lies-bleeding. But this one stays up.

[url]http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Amaranthaceae/Amaranthus_cruentus.html[/url]

Thank you so much, now I know what to look for when I buy seeds. It really is kind of neat looking. I think it is pretty.

Amaranth
 

You should have plenty of seeds avail from this plant for next year.
Wait until they dry and place them in a dry location in a paper bag. Protect fro freezing (like in a basement or floor of a cool closet somewhere.) Amaranth is actually part of the "elephant Weed" family and will also self seed pretty easily.
Good luck! My Amaranth grow by self seeding every year...Next year you may have more than you want! Try "Love Lies Bleeding". Spectacular plant with red stems.... Lore has it that the Indians used to fry like popcorn the dried kernels and eat them. The seeds are not harmful and the birds will enjoy them too. :highfive: