Alternanthera

Family Amaranthaceae. The genus comprises about 200 species distributed in the tropics and subtropics of the Americas, Africa, Asia and Australia.

Perennial herbaceous or semi-shrub plants, used as annual ornamental foliage. The flowers are small, inconspicuous and have no ornamental value. For decorating ponds the sessile Alternanthera (Alternanthera sessilis) is used. Other species, due to their ornamental value, are regarded as the principal plants among carpet (groundcover) species. They exhibit considerable diversity in leaf color, pattern and shape. They grow as low, spreading bushes up to 25 cm in height. They become very bushy after trimming. There is significant confusion among species names that has not yet been resolved.

Location: sunny

Soil: prefer neutral, moderately moist soils.

Propagation: All of them root excellently and quickly from cuttings in a propagation greenhouse at sufficiently high temperatures. Rooting sometimes occurs as early as the third day, usually on days 8–10; cuttings require some shading. After rooting, cuttings are planted into 7 cm pots, one per pot, and moved to warm frames where they are kept throughout April. Five to ten days before seedlings are sent out, the plants are hardened off by ventilating the frames and removing the sash. During this time the plants acquire their characteristic leaf coloration.

Care: All alternantheras cannot tolerate temperatures below 0°C. Planting in the final location is carried out after the end of spring frosts at a spacing of 6–8 cm. Care consists of maintaining a certain height by trimming, watering and weeding; in a short period a uniform, colorful carpet is formed. Leaf coloration becomes more intense and striking under the influence of sunlight. They tolerate trimming easily. Mother plants overwinter in bright greenhouses near the glass at a temperature of 10–12°C. During the winter period they almost do not shed their leaves, only their coloration noticeably pales.