Alternanthera ficoidea - Parrot Leaf

The Alternanthera ficoidea, commonly known as the Parrot Leaf and supplied in tender documents as Alternanthera versicolor, is a low, dense, mat-forming perennial from tropical America grown entirely for its foliage. Small crinkled leaves are marked in combinations of green, cream, pink, orange and red, and the flowers are insignificant. It is the classic carpet bedding plant for formal pattern work, holding a clipped line as tightly as any dwarf hedge at a fraction of the height. It is used in carpet bedding, formal parterre patterns, roundabout displays and low colour edging. Specifications: Height: 0.15 to 0.3 metres Width: 0.3 to 0.5 metres Native to: Tropical Central and South America Foliage: Small crinkled leaves marked in green, cream, pink, orange and red; evergreen in warm climates and the sole reason for planting Growth rate: Fast Conditions: Soil: Prefers moist, well-drained loamy soils with reasonable organic content; dislikes drying out completely Light: Full sun to partial shade, with the strongest leaf colour in full sun Water: Moderate; needs regular irrigation and is not a drought-tolerant plant Climate: Thrives in tropical and subtropical regions and in warm arid climates under irrigation; frost-sensitive Additional Features: Form: Low dense mat that holds a clipped edge precisely, allowing fine pattern work at ground level Uses: Carpet bedding and formal parterre patterns, roundabout and civic display beds, low colour edging, seasonal display planting Spacing: Plant 0.2 to 0.25 metres apart for a closed carpet within one season Low Maintenance: Clip regularly to hold the pattern and the colour; this is a display plant and needs the attention that implies Pest Resistance: Generally robust, with caterpillars the main occasional issue Seasonal Appeal: Foliage colour is held all year in warm climates, giving display value outside any flowering season Versatility: Used equally in ground-level pattern bedding, raised planters and container displays Frost Sensitivity: Damaged by frost and treated as a warm-season display plant in cooler locations The Parrot Leaf is a formal display plant, and it earns its place where a scheme genuinely needs pattern and colour at ground level.