alternanthera red

Name: The Plant Company
Address: 284 Meeanee Road, Meeanee, Napier, 4112, New Zealand
Telephone: 0800 843 752
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Alternanthera red, especially the striking variety known as Alternanthera 'Little Ruby', brings a bold splash of colour to any New Zealand garden. With its dense mat of deep burgundy foliage and compact form, 'Little Ruby' stands out as one of the best choices for dramatic, low-maintenance ground cover. This versatile plant not only brightens borders and pots but also thrives in tricky spots where many other plants struggle. It's a fantastic way to create layers of contrasting foliage, and it pairs beautifully with both classic New Zealand natives and more unusual ornamental choices. Whether you're refreshing a tired outdoor bed, designing a vibrant perennial border, or filling in gaps along walkways, Alternanthera red delivers year-round appeal and effortless style.

Alternanthera Little Ruby

Alternanthera 'Little Ruby' is a compact evergreen foliage plant admired for its rich ruby red leaves and tidy mounding habit. The vibrant colour provides year round contrast and works beautifully against green shrubs and lighter foliage plants.

Alternanthera Little Ruby

Suited to regions:
Subtropical, Temperate
Plant type:
Shrubs
Height:
40 cm
Spread:
60 cm
Flowering time:
Spring
Garden uses:
Borders, Containers, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Pool areas
Garden styles:
Backyard, City & Courtyard, Frontyard, Modern, Rock, Tropical

More species and varieties of Alternanthera

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About Alternanthera 'Little Ruby'

Alternanthera 'Little Ruby' is famed for its compact habit and vibrant, ruby-red foliage that intensifies in full sun. Reaching just 30-40 cm tall, it forms a softly spreading, ground-hugging carpet through the warmer months. This makes it perfect for mass planting, edging, and for striking contrast in mixed containers. Its fine-textured leaves remain vivid even through New Zealand's winter, providing colour when many other non-natives fade.

If you love the drama and versatility of alternanthera red, you may also enjoy the flamboyant variegation of Alternanthera 'Party Time' (Party Time Plant), which adds playful pink splashes to your indoor or sheltered outdoor displays.

Ideal Uses for Alternanthera Red

Alternanthera red varieties like 'Little Ruby' thrive in a range of landscaping roles:

Ground Cover: Plant en masse to form a lush, weed-suppressing carpet along garden borders or steep banks.
Edging: Define walkways or garden beds with a neat, colourful edge.
Containers and Hanging Baskets: Perfect for pots where its trailing form softens hard edges and creates long-lasting interest.
Contrasting Plant Combinations: Mix with structural foliage plants or flowering shrubs for maximum effect. For texture or seasonal colour, partner with shrubs such as Cornus alba 'Elegantissima' or Hebe First Light.

Growing and Caring for Alternanthera 'Little Ruby'

Alternanthera red is very easy to grow, even for beginner gardeners. Plant it in a position with full sun for the richest red tones, though it will tolerate part shade if needed. It prefers free-draining soil and benefits from regular watering—especially during dry spells—but can handle short dry periods once established.

'Little Ruby' is frost-tender, so in colder areas, consider growing it in containers which can be moved under shelter, or use it as a summer annual. For best results, trim lightly after flowering to encourage dense, bushy growth.

Great Companions and Colourful Pairings

For even more garden inspiration, combine alternanthera red with other colourful accent plants. The soft green and pink twigs of Cornus 'Stokes Pink' or the bold, showy displays from Chaenomeles Orange Storm and Hibiscus moscheutos can make a striking seasonal tapestry.

Add Alternanthera 'Little Ruby' to your landscape plans and enjoy a garden that glows with rich alternanthera red tones year round.

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Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.