{"product_id":"exotica-purple-waffle-plant-hemigraphis-alternata-exotica","title":"Exotica Purple Waffle Plant - Hemigraphis alternata 'Exotica'","description":"\u003cp\u003eExotica Purple Waffle Plant (\u003cem\u003eHemigraphis alternata\u003c\/em\u003e 'Exotica') is a low, spreading foliage plant grown for leaves that are green on top and metallic purple underneath, with a puckered, waffle-like texture. It reaches only about 20cm high but spreads to 40cm, so it fills pots, baskets and shady garden edges. It is a tropical plant that wants warmth and humidity, and it repays both with colour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTwo-tone foliage.\u003c\/strong\u003e The puckered leaves are green above and metallic purple beneath, so the plant shimmers as the leaves move and catch the light.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColour in the shade.\u003c\/strong\u003e Filtered sun to shade suits it, which makes it a rare source of rich leaf colour for dim corners. Full sun all day can dull the colour.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVersatile.\u003c\/strong\u003e Grow it indoors in pots and terrariums, outdoors in hanging baskets or as annual bedding, or in tropical gardens as underplanting.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLow and spreading.\u003c\/strong\u003e At 20cm high and 40cm wide it makes a neat carpet beneath taller plants.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFood for butterflies.\u003c\/strong\u003e It is a food plant for the brown and gold Lurcher butterfly, so it earns a place in a butterfly garden.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTropical underplanting.\u003c\/strong\u003e In frost-free gardens, plant 30cm apart beneath shrubs and palms. The plants knit together into a purple and green carpet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIndoors in pots and terrariums.\u003c\/strong\u003e It suits a bright room, a bathroom with some humidity, or a closed glass terrarium, where its liking for moist air is met.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBaskets and annual bedding.\u003c\/strong\u003e In cooler climates treat it as summer bedding and replace it each year, or bring baskets inside before cold nights arrive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Exotica Purple Waffle Plant in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Filtered sun to shade. Full sun all day can dull the leaf colour. It likes humidity and temperatures above 10°C, so it is a year-round plant in tropical and warm subtropical gardens and homes, and a summer annual further south. Indoors, keep it in a bright room away from cold windows in winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Well-drained soil, or a free draining potting mix in containers. It likes regular moisture but not waterlogged soil, so drainage matters.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Mulch and water regularly until it is established, which usually takes around 12 weeks, and keep the water up through summer heat. Feed with a slow release fertiliser in spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Prune as required to keep the shape. Pinching back long stems encourages denser growth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe sell Exotica Purple Waffle Plant as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. Tubes are the economical way to cover a shady bed or fill a few baskets, and in warm weather they settle within a few weeks. Plant out or pot on soon after arrival, and keep the young plants away from cold nights.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTube stock is grown by our supplier and is not always available. If there are none, the tube shows as sold out on this page, and the notify button sends an email the day it returns.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/tropical-plants\"\u003eBrowse tropical plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-partial-shade\"\u003ePlants for partial shade\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/indoor-exotic-plants-guide\"\u003eGrowing tropical foliage at home\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/groundcover\"\u003eGroundcover plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I grow Exotica Purple Waffle Plant indoors?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. It suits pots and terrariums in a bright room with regular water and some humidity. Keep it away from cold windows in winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes it flower?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOccasionally, with tiny white flowers, but it is grown for its foliage. The colour comes from the leaves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWill it survive winter in a cool climate?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt likes temperatures above 10°C, so in cooler areas grow it as a summer annual or keep it indoors over winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube (Backorder)","offer_id":67790337278271,"sku":"HEM-ALT-EXOTIC-tube","price":13.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/exotica-purple-waffle-plant-hemigraphis-alternata-exotica.jpg?v=1792207729","url":"https:\/\/nurserynearme.com.au\/products\/exotica-purple-waffle-plant-hemigraphis-alternata-exotica","provider":"Nursery Near Me","version":"1.0","type":"link"}