Joseph's Coat

Joseph's Coat (Alternanthera dentata) is the fastest way to put a block of deep burgundy purple into a warm climate garden. It stays low, about 40cm tall and 60cm wide, and holds that colour all year rather than fading to green once the weather cools. The flowers are tiny and beside the point. This is a foliage plant, and it does that job better than almost anything else at its size.

Why you'll love it

• Colour without flowers. Deep burgundy purple leaves twelve months a year, so there is no gap between flushes to plan around.
• It fills in fast. A block of 140mm plants closes into solid cover within a single warm season.
• It thrives in humidity. Wet subtropical and tropical summers are exactly its conditions, not something it merely survives.
• Low maintenance. A shear over twice a year is the whole job. No staking, no deadheading, no spraying regime.

Where it works best

Mass planting and groundcover. Plant 40cm apart for a solid block of colour. At that spacing the plants meet in about three months of warm weather, and the dark foliage reads as a single sheet from a distance.

Borders and edging. A ribbon of burgundy along a path or against a green hedge is the classic use, and at 40cm high it never blocks a view.

Pots and containers. It works as the dark base layer in a mixed pot, or on its own in a wide low bowl where the colour sits against pale render or stone.

Growing Joseph's Coat in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the deepest burgundy. In part shade the leaves go bronze green and the plant stretches. This is a plant for tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens only. It is frost tender, so in cool temperate and inland districts treat it as a warm season annual or keep it potted and under cover through winter.

Soil. Any reasonable garden soil that drains. Dig compost through the bed before planting, since the colour is stronger where the soil holds moisture without staying soggy.

Water and feed. Moderate and regular through summer. It wilts visibly in a dry spell and recovers once watered, which makes it a useful indicator plant in a mixed bed. A slow release fertiliser in spring keeps the colour saturated.

Pruning. Shear it back by a third in early spring and again in mid summer. Trimming is what keeps it tight and low, and it reshoots quickly from cut stems.

What to expect when it arrives

It comes in two sizes, both sold as packs: 140mm pots in packs of ten, and 200mm pots in packs of six. This is a plant almost always bought in quantity, so the pack pricing matches how it is used. The 140mm plants are the value option for a large mass planting, and the 200mm plants give quicker cover over a smaller area.

Soft foliage plants can look tired after transit, with some leaf bruising or drooping. They pick up within a week of planting and watering. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the full groundcover range
• A guide to choosing groundcover plants
• Adding colour to the garden with foliage
• Compare tropical garden plants

Common questions

How many plants do I need per square metre?

At 40cm spacing, about six plants per square metre. A pack of ten 140mm plants covers roughly 1.6 square metres and closes over in a warm season.

Will it survive frost?

No. It is frost tender and will be knocked flat by a cold snap. In cool temperate gardens it is still worth growing as a warm season filler, or in pots that can move under cover.

Why has the colour gone green?

Not enough light, almost always. The burgundy pigment needs direct sun to develop, so a plant in shade or under a spreading shrub drifts towards bronze green and grows leggy at the same time.