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- Little Ruby Alternanthera – Ornamental Plant of the Week for April 7, 2014
Richard Bogren, Owings, Allen D.
Little Ruby alternanthera was named a LSU AgCenter Louisiana Super Plant in 2013. It is one of the newer varieties of alternanthera – also known as joseph’s coat.
Little Ruby is best suited to a full-sun setting. It is a great low-maintenance landscape plant and has richly colored, dark burgundy foliage with ruby undersides.
Plants stay short all season long, reaching heights of 16-18 inches by fall. Plants are mounding – spreading out to about 20-24 inches. Pruning to shape is typically not needed. The excellent compact growth habit of this plant is another super feature because Little Ruby requires no deadheading
Plant them about 18 inches apart for best “fill in” without being overgrown by fall. Plants usually don’t require irrigation once well-established, but they like some moisture in the soil.
The Little Ruby variety works best in the landscape when planted in front of flowering annuals or perennials or along the outside edge of a color bed.
The LSU AgCenter and the LSU College of Agriculture