cognise as Joseph ’s pelage , calico plant , copperleaf and by many other vulgar name , genus Alternanthera ( Alternantheraspp.)is a genus of tropical recurrent plants in the Amaranthaceae family that are grown for their strikingly colorful foliage . There are many cultivar available that feature a range of colour combinations .
Alternanthera are low - care plant hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture zona 9 to 11 .
Types of Alternanthera
One of the most common species of genus Alternanthera isAlternanthera dentata , which is aboriginal to the West Indies and is stout in zone 10 and 11 . This species has heights of about 3 feet . Species plants have unripe leaves , but cultivar with regal and burgundy foliage are more commonly useable . Purple Knight ( Alternanthera dentata’Purple Knight ' ) is a democratic cultivar .
Some of the low - grow species and cultivar of alternanthera can be used as ground cover , includingAlternantheraficoidea , which has maximal heights of a foot and is sturdy in geographical zone 10 and 12 . There are multiple cultivars available , including on-key Yellow ( Alternantheraficoidea’True Yellow ' ) , which has chartreuse - colored leaf . If you are looking for a red genus Alternanthera , Red Carpet ( Alternantheraficoidea’Red Carpet ' ) has crimson - colored leaves .
The Brazilian joyweed ( Alternanthera brasiliana , zones 9 to 11 ) has green purple or purple leaves , but this species has become a noxious weed in some parts of the world , including some regions of the U.S. The Brazilian joyweed develop bloodless prime , although it rarely blossom when it is cultivated as an yearly .
Alternanthera Plant Culture
While it is technically a perennial , outside of its hardiness chain alternanthera is more normally acquire as an yearbook . This type of flora works well for bedding .
If you are produce alternanthera plants from seminal fluid , you may want tostart them indoorsand graft them into the garden once the terror of rime has passed .
genus Alternanthera plants can also be propagated using cuttings claim from the old year ’s plant and overwintered indoors . Some cultivars of alternanthera can be found at baby’s room in cell packs .
Soil Requirements
Alternanthera flora develop best in well - debilitate ground that contains constitutive matter but is not excessively fertile . Amending the grime with a balanced fertilizer at planting meter is commonly all the feeding these plant demand , though you’re able to go for fertilizer every other calendar month to raise established plant life .
Light Requirements
The foliage colors are most vibrant when the industrial plant are spring up in full Sunday . However , some shade during the hottest parts of the 24-hour interval is beneficial , as too much Sunday can have bleaching of the leaves . If you may put up enough light , many genus Alternanthera plant can also be farm indoors as houseplant .
Alternanthera Plant Care
genus Alternanthera plants need even moisture to look their skillful . For optimum result , deflect letting the soil dry out out completely . Apply mulch to keep the soil moist and to monish weed growth .
Alternanthera plants benefit from nobble , which imply removing part of stems to encourage the increment of two stem above the gash . This gives plants a shaggy and denser appearance .
While these plant life are not prone to many diseases or pest infestation , spider mitescan become an emergence in wry conditions . Caterpillars may also be a concern .
