Alternanthera bettzickiana (parrot leaf, "Akiransasu")

Japanese name: アキランサス
Scientific name: Alternanthera bettzickiana

[Overview]
A perennial about 5–10 cm tall.
Leaves are simple and opposite, narrowly elliptic, with beautiful red, yellow and other variegation.
The flowers gather densely in the leaf axils and have no petals.
The fruit is a utricle.

[Uses]
It is often planted in carpet bedding.

[Cultivation]
It is easy to grow and not particular about soil as long as the site is well drained and sunny, but it is weak in cold: growth stops at 10 °C or below, and it is very susceptible to frost.
Propagate by cuttings or division.

View this page in Japanese (日本語)