Strobilanthes alternata 'Exotica'

Purple waffle plant 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.  Temperatures below 50 degrees will cause the plant to die.  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.  

Makes a great showpiece when placed in the right container.  Its purple leaves look great when planted in a clay pot.  Or perhaps a container with different shades of purple.  Contrasting container colors, such as pink, blue, green and yellow also add to the plants beauty.  

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

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 stems 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. 

The 'Exotica' cultivar features shiny purple leaves with a puckered "waffle" texture, hence its common name.  Tolerant of drought and dry soils.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Not typically insect issues.  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.