Alternanthera dentata 'Brazilian Red Hots'
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- al-ter-NANTH-ur-uh den-TAY-tuh
- Description
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'Brazilian Red Hots' is a cultivar of Joseph's coat with striking bright red to hot pink variegated leaves. It grows from 1 to 3 feet tall and 18 inches wide with a mounding habit.
Plant in moist organically rich soil with good drainage. It will grow in sun to partial shade but the best leaf color occurs in full sun.. 'Brazilia Red Hots' not only refers to the red hot leaves, but the plant itself loves heat and humidity. They are drought tolerant once established and do best if they are planted in the early spring. Cut it back lightly in late spring and again in late summer to promote fresh bushy growth.
Use as a houseplant, container plant, or as a bedding plant in a cottage garden. Great for use on the patio in the summer or nestled into the garden to provide a pop of additional color, or along the front of a border.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Alternanthera
- Species:
- dentata
- Family:
- Amaranthaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- South America
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Houseplant
- Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Mounding
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Small white ball shaped flowers in fall
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Variegated
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Lance-shaped leaves that have blotches of hot pink and purple.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Patio
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heat
- Humidity