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Alternanthera dentata ‘Little Ruby’

COMMON NAMES

Little Ruby Alternanthera, Little Ruby Calico Plant, Little Ruby Joseph’s Coat

Alternanthera (al-tur-NAN-thur -uh) - Latin for alternate anthers, in reference to alternate anthers being barren

dentata (den-TAY-tuh) - toothed

‘Little Ruby’ - cultivar trademark name

OTHER NAMES / SYNONYMS

Alternanthera dentata ‘LRU30’

GROUP 

Dicot

FAMILY 

Amaranthaceae

ORIGIN

Species - Mexico, South America;   Cultivar – Australia

DESCRIPTION

Little Ruby Alternanthera is an herbaceous perennial that averages 12 to 16 inches in height with a comparable spread. It is upright, compact, dense, and well-branched with a fast growth rate.

Leaves are evergreen, oblong to ovate-shaped, simple, opposite in arrangement, 1 ½ to 2 1/2 inches long, and burgundy and green in color with the undersides a brighter purple. Brighter light will produce more rich purple and burgundy colors. It has pinnate veins and mostly entire margins.

The white flowers are small, round, and are borne in axillary clusters rising above the foliage. It blooms from fall to early winter.

HARDINESS

It is hardy in USDA zones 9 to 11. It is damaged by frost, so in most areas it is grown as an annual. It tolerates heat well.

LIGHT

Full sun for best foliage colors, but it will tolerate some partial shade.

SALT

Moderate Salt Spray Tolerance – it will tolerate some spray, but it is best to have more protection such as a fence or building as an additional barrier behind the first row of plantings or the first dunes.

SOIL

It will grow on a wide variety of well-drained soils, preferring a pH range of 6.5 to 7.0.

WATERING

It has moderate drought tolerance once established, so some water is needed for survival in dry spells. As with most plants, though, ample irrigation in droughts keeps it healthier and looking better.

PROPAGATION

Herbaceous stem cuttings

PRUNING

Pinch when young to promote thicker foliage; otherwise prune to keep in bounds.

FERTILIZING

It has no special fertilizer needs. Unless a soil test suggests otherwise, a slow-release balanced analysis fertilizer applied per the product label will work.

PESTS

Spider Mites - University of California

Chilli Thrips - University of Florida

DISEASES

Fusarium Wilt - University of California

DEER

Fairly resistant

There are very few totally “deer-proof” plants. There are also, relatively speaking, few plants that are considered a preferred food supply of deer. Most plants fall in the big gap between. One of the biggest variables is the available preferred food supply in a given area. If their preferred food is scarce, they will munch on most anything.

OTHER

USES

Borders, containers, groundcover

TOXICITY

California Poison Control lists Alternanthera spp. as non-toxic.

A search of ASPCA, Texas A&M University, Canadian Poisonous Plants Information System, University of Wisconsin, Poisonous Houseplants and Ornamentals - Merck Vet Manual, Purdue University - Guide to Toxic Plants in Forages, Poisonous Plants of the Southeastern United States - Alabama Cooperative Extension, Florida Poison Control, and The Cat Fanciers Association did not show this plant on any of their lists.