How to grow Alternanthera bettzickiana

Alternanthera bettzickiana grow and care – herbaceous of the genus Alternanthera also known as Parrot-leaf, Sanguinarea, Alternanthera versicolor or Calico-plant, Alternanthera bettzickiana perennial evergreen or cold annual plant, can grow as edible plant but mostly used as ornamental plant for the colored leaves, can be used as ground cover plant and also in grow pond or aquarium, can grow in tropic, subtropical, mediterranean or temperate climate and growing in hardiness zone 10b+ as perennial and in the right care also 10a or as annual 4+.

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Alternanthera bettzickiana flowers and edible leaves

Leaves edible color can be: green, pink, yellow, orange, white, red, purple, magenta or multicolor the leaves fleshy in the shape elliptic to oval the structure are wavy to curly.

Flower color white or yellow the flower in pompon shape.

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How to grow Alternanthera bettzickiana growing and care:

Humidity, frost free, moist soil, rich soil, wet land and possible to grow it in aquarium or on ponds, the plant grow better in rich soil with organic matter

How to care:
Add fertilizer at least once a year, better to put mulch, prune once a year

What is the best way to start growing?
Plant / Seed (mostly not viable and see explanation bellow) / Vegetative Reproduction –

How to care:
Add fertilizer at least once a year, better to put mulch, prune once a year

What is the best way to start growing?
Plant / Seed (mostly not viable rarely can find viable seeds) / Vegetative Reproduction – bending a branch over and covering it with soil or cutting

How to propagate:
Propagating start by cutting possible to put in water and switch the water every few days another option it’s to put in moist soil, with humidity and keep the moist soil and peat soil, temperature 23-27C (73-80F) and better to use root growth hormone

Is it necessary to use vegetative reproduction?
Yes, start by cutting, because it’s almost not possible to start from seeds

Difficulties or problems when growing:
Aggressive

Recommended planting season – when to plant?
Spring, summer, autumn, as annual in spring after last frost hardiness zone 8-10a (possible colder if there is long summer or take cutting indoor for the winter, in hardiness zone 10b+11a spring to summer, possible in the autumn but might not survive the winter, hardiness zone 11b+ possible all the year

How to plant:
Dig hole bigger than the root ball, add dead leaves and organic matter, cover the plant and put mulch to keep the soil moist, in the first two weeks need to increase the amount of water

Pests and diseases:
Aphids, ants

Pruning season:
All year, but better after blooming season

How to prune:
Dead branches and for harvest

Size of the plant?
30-50cm (12-20 inches) mostly grow wide

Growth speed in optimal condition:
Fast growing / Medium growing

Water requirement:
Average amount of water / Big amount of water, better not to let the soil dry

Light conditions in optimal condition for growing:
Full Sun / Half Shade

Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant?
No, but possible to grow indoor over winter to protect the plant (because it’s hard to grow from seeds), usually grow indoor in aquarium with light

Growing is also possible in pots, planter, flowerpot or containers:
Yes, when grow in container minimum size 10-30 liter (2-6 gallon) depend if grown as annual or perennial, the plant require average to big amount of water and put mulch to keep the soil moist and makes enough holes that the water go out of the pot, when it’s grow as perennial every few years better to switch soil, and prune part of the roots and the plants, soil need to be well ventilated with good drainage, put fertilizer at least once a year, rich with organic matter, can use in potting mix or peat soil with perlite or vermiculite.

Blooming information

Bloom season:
Spring / Summer

General information about the flower:
Flower color white or yellow the flower in pompon shape.

Pollination is done by:
Bees

Edible leaves

Leaves harvesting season:
All year

How to harvest the leaves?
After establishes cut the leaves with the branches

Information about leaves:
Leaves fleshy in the shape ovate to shapeless the structure is wavy to curly and the color can be: green, pink, yellow, orange, white, red, purple, magenta or multicolor

Uses of Alternanthera bettzickiana leaves:
Eat raw, cooked, stir fry, salad

How to grow Alternanthera bettzickiana from seeds

Sowing requirement:
Find viable seeds (be aware that it’s hard to find), moist soil, humidity, better temperature 23-27C (73-80F)

Saving and care seeds until sowing:
Dark and dry location

Sowing season:
Spring in places of hot summer / Summer in half shade will be better or even in full shade

How to plant:
Plant in soil that keep and release the water like peat soil

Planting spacing:
20*30cm, 8*12 inches

Depth of Sowing:
0.5-1cm (0.25-0.5 inch)

Conditions for seeds germinate:
Moist soil, high humidity, morning sun

Watering requires for Seeds:
Average amount of water / Big amount of water

Germination time:
1-2 month

Condition of seedling:
Moist soil, put mulch in order to keep the moist, high humidity

Scientific name:

Alternanthera bettzickiana

How to grow Alternanthera bettzickiana

Alternanthera bettzickiana

Categories

Blooming Seasons
  • Spring flowers
  • Summer flowers
Edible Parts
  • Edible leaves
Culinary uses
  • Cooked
  • Eaten raw
  • Salad
Flower colors
  • White flower
  • Yellow flower
Climate
  • Mediterranean Climate
  • Subtropics Climate
  • Temperate Climate
  • Tropics Climate
Harvest Season
  • Autumn Harvest
  • Spring Harvest
  • Summer Harvest
  • Winter harvest
Leaf color
  • Orange leaves
  • Pink leaves
  • Purple leaf
  • Red leaves
  • White leaves
  • Yellow leaf
Ornamental parts
  • Ornamental flower
  • Ornamental leaves
  • Ornamental plant
Plant growing speed
  • Average growing plants
  • Fast growing plants
Plant life-form
  • Annual plant
  • Evergreen
  • Herbaceous
  • Perennial plant
Plant Uses
  • Colored leaves
  • Ground cover plants
  • Ornamental plants
Planting Season
  • Autumn Planting
  • Spring Planting
  • Summer planting
Plants sun exposure
  • Full sun Plants
  • Part shade Plants
Watering plants
  • Big amount of water
  • Regularly water
Hardiness zone
  • Hardiness zone 10
  • Hardiness zone 11
  • Hardiness zone 12
  • Hardiness zone 13
  • Hardiness zone 4
  • Hardiness zone 5
  • Hardiness zone 6
  • Hardiness zone 7
  • Hardiness zone 8
  • Hardiness zone 9

Growing in Pots, Balconies & Indoors

Alternanthera bettzickiana is grown for its vivid foliage, and the grower does not treat it as a true houseplant – it is a sun-loving container and bedding plant. Indoors it earns its keep mainly as overwintered stock (it is hard to raise from seed) or grown submerged in a lit aquarium; outdoors it makes a colourful pot or edging plant in full sun.

Quick Details

  • Container Size: About 10-30 L (2-6 gal), depending on whether it is grown as an annual or a perennial
  • Indoor Suitability: Not a houseplant – kept indoors mainly to overwinter it, or grown in a lit aquarium
  • Best Spot: Full sun to half shade for the strongest leaf colour
  • Soil & Drainage: Well-ventilated, organic-rich mix with good drainage
  • Watering in Pots: Average to generous – better not to let the soil dry out, and mulch to hold moisture

Indoors & On the Windowsill

  • Houseplant limits: The grower does not rate it a houseplant; in a normal room it stretches and loses colour.
  • Overwintering: Because it is hard to grow from seed, keep a plant indoors over winter to protect your stock, then take cuttings when it warms.
  • Aquarium note: It is one of the plants sometimes grown submerged in a lit aquarium.

On a Balcony or Patio

  • Light, wind & heat: Give it the brightest, sunniest spot; walls and paving throw heat back so pots dry quickly – check moisture daily in warm spells, and stake or shelter anything tall or exposed from wind.
  • Colour: The brightest sun gives the deepest leaf colour; keep it well watered, as pots dry fast in the heat.

Choosing the Pot, Soil & Long-Term Care

  • Pot & drainage: A 10-30 L pot with plenty of holes so water drains freely; a mulch keeps the mix moist.
  • Potting mix: A well-ventilated, free-draining mix – potting mix or peat with perlite or vermiculite, rich in organic matter.
  • Feeding: Feed at least once a year, and more often in a pot, as watering leaches nutrients away.
  • As a perennial: Every few years switch the soil and prune back part of the roots and top growth to renew it.

Bloom & Flower Guide

Quick Details

  • Bloom Season: Spring and summer
  • Flower Appearance: Small, papery white-to-yellow pompon flower clusters
  • Edibility: Flowers are ornamental and insignificant — the plant’s edible part is its leaves

Detailed Blooming Overview

Alternanthera bettzickiana, the calico plant, is grown for its vivid, multi-colored foliage rather than its bloom. When it does flower in spring and summer, it produces small, papery pompon-shaped clusters of white to yellow flowers tucked among the leaves — a minor feature next to the colorful leaves.

Flower Characteristics

  • Small white or yellow flowers in rounded, papery pompon clusters.
  • Modest and easily overlooked against the bright foliage.
  • Visited by bees.

Bloom Care & Thinning

  • Managing the bloom: Grown as bedding or groundcover, it is often sheared and pinched to keep the foliage compact and tidy, usually before it flowers.
  • Pollination: Carried out by bees.