Green Hedge (Alternanthera bettzickiana 'Green') - Potted

Green Hedge (Alternanthera bettzickiana 'Green') is a compact, bushy plant with glossy, bright green, lance-shaped leaves whose wavy edges curl upward. It is the all-green member of the same group as our Joseph's Coat and Florida Ruffle, and it gives the land section of a paludarium or the edge of a pond a dense, tidy clump of fresh green that is easy to keep. Browse the rest of our freshwater plants and supplies to fill out the setup.

Care Guide

• Placement: set it in the land area of a paludarium, a riparium planter, a terrarium, or on a pond shelf, with the crown at or just above the waterline and the leaves in open air.
• Water: keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. Wet roots are fine; leaves held underwater will drop and rot within a few weeks.
• Light: bright light keeps it compact and glossy. Outdoors it takes full sun. In dim spots it stretches and thins out.
• Humidity: it enjoys the humid air of a closed paludarium or the space just above pond water.
• Shaping: pinch the growing tips every couple of weeks. Each pinch makes the stem branch, so regular pinching gives you a dense little hedge instead of long, floppy stems.
• Propagation: stem cuttings root easily. Push trimmed tips into moist soil to start new plants.
• Cold sensitivity: it is frost tender and will not survive a Georgia freeze outdoors. Treat it as a warm-season pond plant, or bring it inside for the winter.

Specifications

Placement & Companions

Green Hedge makes a great backdrop for colorful emersed plants. Plant it beside Joseph's Coat and Florida Ruffle, its close relatives, and the plain green sets off their reds and coppers. Bloody Dock and Bella Palm add contrast and height, and American Frogbit covers the open water nearby.

For a paludarium build, start with an Exo Terra Pro Paludarium and plant the land section in Exo Terra Plantation Soil.

FAQ

Can I plant it fully underwater in my aquarium?
No. Held underwater it lasts a few weeks, then drops leaves and rots. Keep the leaves in air. If you want a true underwater Alternanthera, choose Scarlet Temple, which is aquatic and in the same genus.

Then why is it sold with aquarium plants?
Growers ship it in bunches alongside true aquatic stems because it looks the part and survives a short time underwater. We pot it and sell it for emersed setups, where it grows well for years.

Will it come back next spring in my pond?
No. It is frost tender, so treat it as a warm-season plant outdoors, or bring it somewhere bright and above freezing for the winter.

How do I keep it compact?
Pinch the tips. Every pinch turns one stem into two, and the pinched-off tips root easily if you want more plants.

How do I get my plants?
These are in-store pickup only. We hold your order and pull it fresh when you arrive.