Alternanthera
[all-ter-NAN-ther-ah]

Annual (usually grown as an annual near you) in the Amaranthaceae Family
A tropical foliage genus grown for brilliant purple and burgundy leaf color rather than its flowers.

Alternanthera is a large, diverse genus of foliage plants in the amaranth family, prized not for flowers but for vividly colored leaves in shades of purple, burgundy, magenta, and variegated green. The genus spans everything from low, ground-hugging carpet-bedding types to taller, upright shrubby selections, and is native primarily to the tropical Americas. In climates like Chicago's, all Alternanthera are grown as warm-season annuals or container plants, since the genus is winter-hardy only in essentially frost-free regions.

Pros

  • Vivid, long-lasting foliage color that intensifies with more sun
  • Fast growing and easy to shape
  • Excellent filler for containers, borders, and mass plantings
  • Heat tolerant

Cons

  • Not winter-hardy in the Chicago area - replaced annually or overwintered indoors
  • Some species can be weedy in warm climates
  • Individual cultivars vary widely in size and habit
This plant is probably not winter-hardy outdoors where you live.
 

Plant Data

Sun Exposure Partial Sun - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium
Zones 10a - 11b (Usually hardy to 30° F)
Tags Annual, Evergreen, Full Sun, Medium, Partial Sun
 

Rankings


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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


Estimated Recipe Cost

The cost of this recipe's ingredients will vary depending on the season and the sizes and varieties you select.


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