Joseph's Coat (Alternanthera ficoidea) - Potted

Joseph's Coat (Alternanthera ficoidea) earns its name honestly: every leaf is a different mix of crimson, rose, copper, cream, and green, so a single potted plant reads like a handful of different plants stacked together. It is a compact, bushy grower that holds that color all season in bright light, and it is one of the easiest ways to put real warmth at a water's edge where most plants give you nothing but green. Browse the rest of our freshwater plants and supplies to fill out the pond or paludarium.

Care Guide

• Placement: set the pot on a shallow pond shelf, at the mouth of a bog filter, or in a paludarium or riparium planter, with the crown at or just above the waterline and the foliage in open air.
• Water depth: keep it to moist soil or no more than about an inch over the crown. Permanently wet feet are fine, permanently submerged leaves are not.
• Light drives the color: bright light is what produces the reds, pinks, and coppers. In shade the plant survives but reverts toward plain green, which defeats the purpose of buying it.
• Humidity: loves it. A closed paludarium or the humid air just above pond water suits it perfectly.
• Shaping: pinch the growing tips every couple of weeks. It responds by branching, and pinched plants stay dense and colorful instead of getting leggy.
• Cold sensitivity: this one is tender, unlike a hardy marginal. It will not survive a Georgia freeze outdoors. Treat it as a warm-season pond annual, or bring it inside for the winter.

Specifications

Placement & Companions

Put it where the color gets seen: the front edge of a pond shelf, the lip of a bog filter, or the land section of a paludarium. It sits beautifully next to Bloody Dock, whose red-veined green leaves play off the calico foliage, and against floating plants covering the open water nearby: Water Hyacinth, Water Lettuce, and Frogbit.

For an indoor emersed display, pair it with Florida Ruffle, its ruffled cousin in the same species, and Bella Palm for height.

FAQ

Can I plant it fully underwater in my aquarium?
No, and this is the mistake to avoid. Joseph's Coat is regularly sold alongside true aquarium plants, but held under water it drops leaves and rots over a few weeks. Keep the leaves in air. If you want a genuinely submersed red Alternanthera, buy Scarlet Temple instead, which is a true aquatic in the same genus.

Will it come back next spring in my pond?
No. Unlike a hardy marginal, this one is frost tender. Treat it as a warm-season annual outdoors, or lift it and overwinter it somewhere bright and above freezing.

My plant is turning green. What happened?
Not enough light. The reds and pinks are pigment the plant only bothers producing under bright conditions. Move it somewhere sunnier and the new growth colors back up.

How do I keep it compact?
Pinch the tips. Every pinch turns one stem into two, so regular pinching is what gives you the dense, bushy shape rather than a few long floppy stems.

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