Our horticulture workforce at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is engaged on a brand new vertical wall thought for the summer season (of 2014). As we speak, we have been brainstorming which crops to make use of within the vertical panels. Somebody talked about Sedum ‘Angelina,’ one other thought was Lysmachia nummularia ‘Aurea,’ after which I remembered Joseph’s Coat or Alternanthera ficoidea.
Alternanthera is a young perennial (hardy to USDA zone 10) native from Mexico to Argentina, which is primarily grown for its foliage. The leaves on the crops are small and differ in look from being an inch huge to some cultivars which have thread-like foliage.
Utilizing Alternanthera in a Vertical Wall backyard
The Alternanthera would work in our inexperienced wall thought as a result of it could present us with some attention-grabbing colours in a fast-growing plant. In our zone 6a gardens right here on the coast of Maine, we would want to begin the crops in late April or early Might in a greenhouse to get them rooted in and rising. Most likely by mid-June, we might place the vertical panels out into the backyard.
To ensure that Joseph’s Coat to proceed rising efficiently, the temperature must be persistently above 55-60 levels. Because the summer season rising season goes on, the hotter it will get, the stronger it is going to develop. Then, by mid-summer, every plant ought to be round a foot huge and may very well be a foot tall. The beauty of Alternanthera ficoidea is that it may be sheared into a good kind.
Many Victorian gardens utilized Joseph’s Coat as a tightly clipped annual in bedding schemes.
Joseph’s Coat grows greatest in full solar to partial shade in acidic, moist, however well-drained soil.
In hotter elements of the nation, you may need to double-check if you happen to can plant Alternanthera. It’s intently associated to the noxious alligator weed. In heat areas the place alligator weed is an issue, totally different bugs that feed on it have been launched to attempt to management its progress. These bugs may go after the decorative Alternanthera as effectively.
Among the extra in style Alternanthera ficoidea cultivars embody
Alternanthera ficoidea ‘Social gathering Time’ – a tricolor choice with white, crimson, and inexperienced coloured leaves and prized for its colourful foliage.
‘Pink Threads’ – This one is a darkish crimson, finely leaved choice with crimson veining within the leaves.
‘Yellow Type’ – a chartreuse-colored kind. We’ll most likely use ‘Yellow Type’ on our wall due to the sample we are attempting to color.
Alternanthera ficoidea additionally goes by a number of different names, together with Bloodleaf Calico Plant, Copperleaf Joyweed, and Parrot Leaf. You will have seen it provided within the backyard middle within the indoor backyard part – It’s also an wonderful selection as a houseplant.
Have you ever grown Joseph’s Coat in your backyard? What was your expertise with this plant?
– Rodney
Different attention-grabbing colourful crops posts:
