Alternanthera ficoidea
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- al-ter-NAN-ther-a fy-KOY-dee-uh
- Description
-
Joseph's coat is an herbaceous perennial in the Amaranthaceae (buckwheat) family. With its strikingly colored foliage it is commonly grown as a houseplant or annual groundcover with its sprawling habit.
This plant grows in full sun to partial shade in moist organically rich well-drained soil. Brightly colored leaves are most showy in full sun conditions. Once established, it is quite drought and heat tolerant. There are many popular cultivars featuring green leaves blotched with yellow, orange, red, brown, copper, or purple, sometimes with red veining. Pinch back stems for a more bushy habit.
If planting outdoors as a groundcover, place plants 4 to 9 inches apart. Plants can be overwintered indoors, tip cuttings can be taken, or they can be grown from seed.
Colorful cultivars make for interesting backdrops in border or edge gardens placed among more common green-leaved plants. Plant in an English or cottage garden, or use in a container on a patio. This plant can also be grown as a houseplant.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This plant does not have any serious insect or disease problems. Leaves may bleach in the full sun during hot summers.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Border Garden, Upcycled
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Creme de Menthe'
White and green variegation - 'Purple Prince'
Burgandy leaves - 'Red Carpet'
Red leaves - 'True Yellow'
Chartreuse leaves
- 'Creme de Menthe'
- 'Creme de Menthe', 'Purple Prince', 'Red Carpet', 'True Yellow'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Creme de Menthe'
White and green variegation - 'Purple Prince'
Burgandy leaves - 'Red Carpet'
Red leaves - 'True Yellow'
Chartreuse leaves
- 'Creme de Menthe'
- 'Creme de Menthe', 'Purple Prince', 'Red Carpet', 'True Yellow'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Alternanthera
- Species:
- ficoidea
- Family:
- Ameranthaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mexico, South America
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Houseplant
- Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
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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
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Insignificant
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are white, no petals, insignificant appear in axillary clusters from fall to winter.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Orange
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Variegated
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are elliptic to broad ovate green leaves (1” long). There are many colorful cultivars with blotches of gold, orange, red-brown and purple, often with red veining. Brighter leaved varieties are often confused with coleus.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Small Space
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- English Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
