Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Tender Perennial
Origin
-
Southern Africa
Types
Alternanthera reineckii
Alternanthera sessilis
Alternanthera philoxeroides
Alternanthera bettzickiana
Alternanthera caracasana
Perennial
Number of Varieties
40050
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Grassland
Desert, Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Temperate Regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-118-10
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
10-8
Sunset Zone
H1, H2
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Cushion/Mound-forming
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.50 cm61.30 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.50 cm30.50 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White
Yellow, Light Yellow, Brown
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Green, Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Red, Purple, Pink, Burgundy
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Red, Purple, Pink, Burgundy
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Red, Purple, Pink, Burgundy
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Red, Purple, Pink, Burgundy
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Round
Grass like
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Rhizome division, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering, Water Deeply
Requires regular watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Any balanced general purpose fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Nematodes, Scale
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
-
Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Ethnobotanic
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, Antioxidants
-
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
Root
Other Uses
Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant
Roots were worn to protect and strengthen the wearer, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Hanging Basket, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Tropical, Water Gardens
Botanical Name
ALTERNANTHERA 'Raspberry Rum'
DIETES bicolor
Common Name
Alternanthera
African iris, Fortnight lily
In Hindi
Gudrisag, Garundi
African Iris
In German
Alternanthera
Afrikanische Iris
In French
Alternanthera
African Iris
In Spanish
Alternanthera
Iris africano
In Greek
Alternanthera
Αφρικανική Iris
In Portuguese
Alternanthera
Iris africano
In Polish
Alternanthera
Afryki Iris
In Latin
Alternanthera
African Iris
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Asparagales
Family
Amaranthaceae
Iridaceae
Genus
Alternanthera
Dietes
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
-
Irideae
Subfamily
Gomphrenoideae
Iridoideae
Number of Species
27300
1
27800
👆🏻