Tricolor Alternanthera

Tricolor Alternanthera (Alternanthera ficoidea 'Tricolor') is a dwarf evergreen groundcover that grows quickly to about 30cm tall and 30cm to 40cm wide. The foliage is a patchwork of pink, bronze, red and green, so a bed carries colour through the whole year. It thrives in warm, humid, frost free gardens.

Why you'll love it

• Colour in every season. Shades of pink, bronze, red and green mix on the same plant, so the planting never looks plain.
• Quick to fill. It is a fast, low grower, so gaps in a warm bed close up quickly.
• A natural low hedge. Clipped over regularly, it holds a neat edge as stepover hedging along borders.
• Loves humidity. It thrives in humid conditions, so it suits tropical and subtropical gardens.
• Useful for contrast. The multi-coloured leaves make a backdrop for showier seasonal flowers.

Where it works best

Mass planting and groundcover. Plant 30cm apart to cover a bed densely. At 30cm to 40cm wide per plant, the colours merge into one patterned carpet.

Low borders and stepover hedging. Set a single row 30cm apart along a path, lawn edge or garden bed, and clip it to keep the line crisp.

Tropical gardens and colour contrast. Plant it beside plain green or silver foliage so its warm tones stand out, or use it under taller plants that need a coloured skirt.

Growing Tricolor Alternanthera in Australia

Position and climate. Alternantheras love warm, sheltered positions with morning or afternoon sun. Full sun is fine, but avoid places that are too exposed and dry. It needs a frost free garden and thrives in humidity, so it is at home in tropical and subtropical areas. In cooler climates, grow it as a seasonal planting or in pots under cover.

Soil. Plant in a free draining soil rich in organic matter. In pots, a potting mix rich in humus suits it.

Water and feed. It requires regular watering. Mulch and water well after planting, and do not let the bed dry out in summer.

Pruning. Clip over to maintain a dense habit and vivid leaf colour. A light trim every so often keeps it compact and stops it going leggy.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Tricolor Alternanthera as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. Tubes suit larger plantings, and you need roughly one for every 30cm of bed. Plants travel upright and compact. Unpack them promptly, plant into moist soil, mulch and water in well, and expect the colour to build as the plant fills out.

Plants are 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 our groundcover plants
• Edging plants for a tidy border
• Tropical plants for warm gardens
• Plants for subtropical climates

Common questions

How does it differ from Red Threads?

Red Threads has very slender burgundy leaves, while Tricolor carries a mix of pink, bronze, red and green. Both are low, frost tender alternantheras, and both clip well as stepover hedging.

Can I grow it in a cool climate?

Only as a seasonal planting or in pots that move under cover. It needs frost free conditions, and it grows best where the air is warm and humid.

How do I keep the colour bright?

Give it sun, keep the water regular and clip it over to maintain a dense habit and vivid leaf colour. Leggy, shaded plants lose their contrast.