Dennerle - Alternanthera reineckii 'Red Ruby'

Dennerle - Alternanthera reineckii 'Red Ruby' Alternanthera reineckii 'Red Ruby' is a richly coloured stem plant known for its intense red foliage and distinctive lighter ruby-red venation. It creates a strong focal point in planted aquariums and contrasts beautifully with bright green stems, carpeting plants, and dark hardscape. The cultivar grows at a moderate rate and develops its best colour under good lighting, steady CO₂, and balanced fertilisation. It can be used as a compact group in smaller aquariums or planted in a larger stand through the midground and background for a dramatic red accent. Key Plant Specifications Plant Type: Stem plant Growth Rate: Moderate Difficulty: Moderate Placement: Midground to Background Height: Up to 40 cm Lighting Requirements: Medium to High CO₂ Requirements: 20–30 mg/L recommended Propagation: Head cuttings and side shoots Water Parameters Temperature: 22–28°C pH: 5.0–8.0 Water Hardness: Soft to hard Why You'll Love It Striking ruby-red leaf colour and venation Excellent contrast plant for green aquascapes Moderate growth is easy to shape with trimming Suitable for small groups or larger background stands Responds strongly to good light, CO₂, and balanced nutrients Plant Profile Attribute Details Scientific Name Alternanthera reineckii 'Red Ruby' Common Name Red Ruby Alternanthera Family Amaranthaceae Origin Cultivar Plant Type Stem plant Placement Midground to Background Height Up to 40 cm Growth Rate Moderate Lighting Medium to High CO₂ 20–30 mg/L recommended Temperature 22–28°C pH 5.0–8.0 Water Hardness Soft to hard Propagation Head cuttings and side shoots Important Note This plant is supplied in Dennerle’s Plant Bag format, where the plant is rooted in a coconut/coir plug held in a net pot. Unlike traditional rockwool-grown aquarium plants, the plug does not need to be removed before planting. Simply remove the plant from the outer packaging, rinse gently if needed, and plant the coconut plug directly into the substrate. The roots can continue growing through the plug and into the surrounding substrate. Please note: As this is a living plant, size, leaf shape, colour, and fullness may vary slightly from the product images and between individual specimens. Some emersed-grown leaves may change as the plant adapts to submerged aquarium growth.