Strobilanthes alternata 'Exotica'

Strobilanthes alternata 'Exotica' is commonly called the waffle plant or the purple waffle plant. This cultivar features shiny purple leaves with a puckered "waffle" texture.

It is a small, tender, herbaceous, tropical perennial in the Acanthaceae family that is grown for its colorful, textured foliage. In cooler climates, it is often grown as an annual or in a container. It may be used as ground cover; however, temperatures below 50 degrees will cause the plant to die. It is winter hardy in USDA Zones 10 to 11. Providing this plant with bright light will help the plant to retain its rich purple coloring. Direct sunlight will cause the leaf color to bleach or show signs of being sunburned. 

The white flowers are short-lived, but when in bloom they make a stunning contrast to the dark, purple foliage. Moderate pruning for cleaning up the plant may be required.   

Strobilanthes alternata is also known as Hemigraphis alternata. The genus name, Hemigraphis, is derived from two Greek words. Hemi means half, and graphis means brush which is interpreted as one-half of a brush. This refers to hair covering on the filaments of the stamens.

The waffle plant makes a great showpiece when placed in the right container. Its purple leaves look great when planted in a clay pot or perhaps in a container with different shades of purple. Contrasting container colors, such as pink, blue, green, and yellow also add to the plant's beauty.  

Want plants that have a more bushy appearance?  Pinch the stem tip off just above the leaves. This will allow the plant to focus on growing new foliage, giving a more full or bushy appearance.  It will also slow down the stem's growth. Use the clippings to propagate additional plants. It's time to repot your plant when the roots begin to protrude from the drainage holes of your container. 

Quick ID Hints:

• low growing, 6 to 9 inches tall, and spreading ground cover 
• glossy, puckered, waffled, reddish to purplish green leaves on the upper surface and red on the underside
• tiny white flower on terminal spikes

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:   An occasional application of an insecticidal soap will prevent any insect issues from arising. Diseases that typically affect houseplants in general are scale, whiteflies, and root rot.