Alternanthera (Alternanthera dentata), often referred to as Joseph’s coat, is a perennial, herbaceous, warm-season bedding plant. It will not survive frost but can return from roots after mild winters. Little Ruby is typically used as an annual in Louisiana. Little Ruby is used as a ground cover for its compact, mounding, spreading form. It is called Little Ruby for the beautiful ruby red underside of burgundy purple foliage. It has a vigorous compact growth habit and grows in USDA hardiness zones 9 through 11. Little Ruby Alternanathera is a heat-loving, drought-tolerant, tropical to subtropical plant that has low maintenance requirements. White flowers are displayed in the spring but are not nearly as showy as the gorgeous, contrasting foliage. Little Ruby is great as a ground cover, as a mass planting or a border plant and does great in containers and hanging baskets.