Alternanthera porrigens

Japanese name: アルテルナンテラ ポリゲンス
Scientific name: Alternanthera porrigens

[Overview]
An evergreen perennial or subshrub about 0.6–1 m tall.
It is deciduous in cold regions.
The leaves are simple and opposite, ovate to elliptic, and entire.
The flowers are borne densely clustered at the stem tips and in the leaf axils; there are 5 tepals, and they are reddish purple.
The fruit is a utricle.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by bud cuttings.
It is suited to warm climates, but can overwinter outdoors in areas without frost.
Even if it loses its leaves in the cold, it will sprout again in spring as long as it does not freeze.
In cold regions, grow it in a pot and bring it indoors in winter.
It prefers a sunny, well-drained place.
In poor light it becomes leggy and flowers poorly.
It is also a short-day plant that flowers as the days shorten, so it flowers poorly in places that are bright at night.
For potted plants, water thoroughly after the soil has dried; for plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient.
It is best fertilized sparingly, and plants in the ground need no fertilizer in particular.
For potted plants, apply fertilizer placed on the soil once a month from early summer to autumn, or liquid fertilizer once a week.
Cutting back from early summer to summer prevents excess moisture in summer and also increases the number of flowers.
After flowering, cut back hard, and for plants in the ground, mulch around the base of the plant to protect it from frost.
There are no particular pests or diseases.

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