Coat of Many Colors – Desert Horizon Nursery

Coat of Many Colors

Alternanthera ficoidea
Categories:
Annuals  ·  
Seasonal Color
Light
Full sun (afternoon shade in low desert)
Water
Moderate to regular water; keep soil evenly moist but not soggy. Water when the top inch begins to dry, checking containers frequently during summer heat.
Size
0.5-1 ft tall × 1-2 ft wide
Habit
Groundcover – mounding
Toxicity
Non-toxic
Description
A tender tropical foliage plant, commonly Alternanthera bettzickiana, grown for its colorful, often variegated leaves rather than its flowers.
Bloom Time
Non-flowering (grown for foliage)
Deciduous / Evergreen
Annual
Special Features
Growth Rate
Moderate to fast
Growth Habit
Groundcover – mounding
Mature Size
0.5-1 ft tall × 1-2 ft wide
Flower Color
None (grown for foliage)
Foliage Color
Multicolored; red / orange / yellow / and green
Landscape Use
Border / Bed, Container / Patio, Desert / Xeriscape
Garden Style
Container / Patio, Desert / Xeriscape
Soil
Amended / Rich, Well-Drained
Companion Plants
Coleus, Impatiens, Sweet potato vine, Wax begonia
Non-toxic
Non-toxic
Care Instructions

Light: Morning sun with afternoon shade in Phoenix; bright filtered light also works. Avoid intense summer afternoon sun, which can scorch foliage.

Water: Moderate to regular water; keep soil evenly moist but not soggy. Water when the top inch begins to dry, checking containers frequently during summer heat.

Soil: Well-drained soil enriched with compost. Use quality potting mix in containers; avoid poorly drained clay and excessive salt buildup.

Mature size: Usually 6–18 inches tall and 12–24 inches wide, depending on cultivar.

Bloom: Small, inconspicuous flowers may appear in late summer or fall; flowering varies with cultivar and growing conditions.

Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen in frost-free conditions; frost-tender in Zone 9b and often grown as an annual or overwintered indoors.

Growth rate: Moderate to fast in warm weather with adequate moisture.