It seems there is one color that every gardener wants to incorporate in the flower border: red. There is good reason, as this is the color that evokes passion and stirs up excitement -- and who doesn’t want that in the garden? Whether you live in an area with temperatures still in the 90s or will have to wait until next spring planting, remember the name Strawberry Fields.

Over the years I have written about gomphrena or globe amaranth, like the hot new All Around Purple or the giant Fireworks, which are all great selections, But Strawberry Fields, which has been around awhile, will make you wonder why you have not tried it before.

Strawberry Fields is a different species, known botanically as Gomphrena haageana, and is native to Texas, New Mexico and Mexico. It comes from an area with sweltering heat and sparse rainfall and will be tough-as-nails in your garden too! Don’t let adjectives like heat and drought tolerant make you envision a weed because this plant is a real showstopper. There is one more adjective you could use to describe Strawberry Fields, and that is everlasting. It will offer you the opportunity to be cut, hung upside down to dry and then used in a vase.

Strawberry Fields can reach 24 to 36 inches inches tall, and as wide in cultivation, attaining an almost shrub-like appearance and is literally covered with the red ball-like flowers. To grow yours select a site in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil. I have seen many fine gomphrenas in part sun, but blooms are more prolific in full sun. Those blooms will also bring in butterflies!

When working soil, incorporate 2 pounds of fertilizer per 100 square feet of bed space. I use a 12-6-6 ratio, but a balanced one that contains a slow-release form of nitrogen will do just fine. Work in the fertilizer and 3 to 4 inches of organic matter, tilling 6 to 8 inches deep.

The effort put into loosening the soil with organic matter will pay off when frequent rains make good drainage mandatory. Once the drier season arrives, established Strawberry Fields plants will become drought tolerant. Space plants at least 18 to 24 inches apart, planting them at the same depth they are growing in the container. Add a layer of mulch to conserve moisture and retard weed growth.

Remove old flowers to keep the plant tidy and looking its best. That will keep those little, round flowers coming, too. Feed plants about every six weeks with the same fertilizer used in bed preparation. As mentioned above Strawberry Fields is an excellent cut flower for the vase or dried flower for winter arrangements. Also consider using the little ball-shaped flowers around the home in potpourri dishes.

Its red color partners well with yellow flowers like lantana, melampodium and rudbeckia. I recently saw a stunning combination where the Strawberry Fields was use as a lower level planting with huge candlestick trees with their yellow candelabra-like blossoms. The red will also partner well with the spiky blue flowered Victoria Blue salvia and the low growing Blue Daze evolvulus.

If you are looking for a hot red flower for your warm season landscape now or for next summer’s garden then by all means consider Strawberry Fields gomphrena, it’s one of the finest flowers available to add months of color.