Life Span
Annual and Perennial
Perennial
Type
Shrub
Tender Perennial
Origin
Central America, South America
Hybrid origin
Types
Not Available
Alternanthera reineckii
Alternanthera sessilis
Alternanthera philoxeroides
Alternanthera bettzickiana
Alternanthera caracasana
Number of Varieties
Not Available
Habitat
Dry areas, Well Drained, Woodlands
Grassland
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-11
9-11
AHS Heat Zone
Not Available
12-1
Sunset Zone
Not Available
H1, H2
Habit
Thicket/Colonizing
Cushion/Mound-forming
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Not Available
Fruit Color
Red
Not Available
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green, Gray Green
Red, Purple, Pink, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green, Gray Green
Red, Purple, Pink, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Fall
Light Green, Gray Green
Red, Purple, Pink, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Red, Purple, Pink, Burgundy
Plant Season
Spring, Summer
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring, Summer
Indeterminate
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Requires regular watering
Requires regular watering, Water Deeply
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Dry, Sandy
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
In Early Autumn, Prune in winter, Remove branches, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Complete balanced fertilizer, iron-rich fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Red blotch, Whiteflies
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Wind
Drought
Flowers
Yes
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Attracts
Bees, Birds, Butterflies, pollinators
Not Available
Allergy
Pollen
no allergic reactions
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Beautification
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
Not Available
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for birds, Nesting sites for birds, Windbreak
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Antioxidants, Arthritis, Diarrhea, Dysentry, Fertility, Fever, Inflammation, Kidney problems, scurvy, Urinary tract problems, Vitamin C
Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, Antioxidants
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Fruits, Leaves, Root
Whole plant
Other Uses
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for making hedge
Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Hanging Basket, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
Malpighia emarginata
ALTERNANTHERA 'Raspberry Rum'
Common Name
Barbados cherry, West Indian cherry and wild crepe myrtle
Alternanthera
In Hindi
Acerola Tree
Gudrisag, Garundi
In German
Acerola Baum
Alternanthera
In French
Acerola Arbre
Alternanthera
In Spanish
Árbol de acerola
Alternanthera
In Greek
Acerola Δέντρο
Alternanthera
In Portuguese
Árvore acerola
Alternanthera
In Polish
Acerola Drzewo
Alternanthera
In Latin
Acerola ligno
Alternanthera
Phylum
Not Available
Magnoliophyta
Class
Not Available
Magnoliopsida
Order
Malpighiales
Caryophyllales
Family
Malpighiaceae
Amaranthaceae
Genus
Malpighia
Alternanthera
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
Not Available
Not Available
Subfamily
Not Available, Paperveroideae
Gomphrenoideae
Number of Species
Not Available
Season and Care of Acerola and Alternanthera
Season and care of Acerola and Alternanthera is important to know. While considering everything about Acerola and Alternanthera Care, growing season is an essential factor. Acerola season is Spring and Summer and Alternanthera season is Spring and Summer. The type of soil for Acerola is Loam, Sand and for Alternanthera is Loam, Sand while the PH of soil for Acerola is Alkaline and for Alternanthera is Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline.
Acerola and Alternanthera Physical Information
Acerola and Alternanthera physical information is very important for comparison. Acerola height is 457.20 cm and width 243.84 cm whereas Alternanthera height is 30.50 cm and width 30.50 cm. The color specification of Acerola and Alternanthera are as follows:
Acerola flower color: Pink
Acerola leaf color: Light Green and Gray Green
Alternanthera flower color: White
- Alternanthera leaf color: Red, Purple, Pink and Burgundy
Care of Acerola and Alternanthera
Care of Acerola and Alternanthera include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. Acerola pruning is done In Early Autumn, Prune in winter, Remove branches, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves and Remove dead or diseased plant parts and Alternanthera pruning is done Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches and Remove dead leaves. In summer Acerola needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water. Whereas, in summer Alternanthera needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water.