Florida Ruffle “Green Hedge” Alternanthera — Terrarium & Houseplant

Terrarium & Vivarium Friendly · Dense Ruffled Foliage · Easy to Shape · Ships Potted or Bare Root Overview Florida Ruffle “Green Hedge” (Alternanthera sp.) is a compact tropical foliage plant with bright green, ruffled leaves packed into a dense, bushy mound. That rich texture makes it a natural fit for terrariums, vivariums, tabletop planters, and mixed plant displays, where it fills gaps and adds instant fullness. This hardy, ornamental joyweed is easy to grow and simple to shape. A quick pinch every few weeks keeps it tight and hedge-like, and every trimming can be rooted into a new plant. It grows happily indoors year-round and can spend summers outside in warm-weather containers. What You'll Receive 1 live Florida Ruffle “Green Hedge”, hand-selected for full, healthy foliage Your choice of format: Potted — arrives rooted in a nursery grow pot, ready to display or set inside a decorative planter Bare Root — ships without pot or soil at a lower price, ready to plant straight into your terrarium substrate or potting mix Size: approx. 5–8 inches tall Greenhouse-grown under controlled conditions Every plant is one of a kind. Leaf shape and fullness vary naturally. Key Features Bright green, ruffled leaves in a dense, hedge-like mound Bushy growth that's easy to shape with regular pinching Terrarium and vivarium friendly, from average room air to high humidity Grows quickly in good light, so it fills space fast Beginner-friendly and rarely bothered by pests Indoor or warm outdoor use, including summer patio containers Benefits Adds texture and fullness to terrariums, planters, and plant displays Fills the gaps between taller terrarium plants Trims easily into a neat mini hedge or border Multiplies easily from cuttings, so one plant can become several Provides year-round greenery indoors and summer color outdoors Product Specifications Specification Details Scientific Name Alternanthera sp. Common Names Florida Ruffle “Green Hedge”, Joyweed Plant Family Amaranthaceae Plant Type Terrestrial tropical foliage plant (not aquatic) Height at Shipping Approx. 5–8 inches Mature Size Typically 6–12 inches tall, spreading wider than it grows tall Growth Habit Dense, bushy mound of ruffled leaves Growth Rate Fast in good light Light Bright, indirect light with some gentle direct sun Water Lightly moist, never soggy Humidity Average room humidity up to high terrarium humidity Temperature 65–80°F (18–27°C); keep above 55°F (13°C) Outdoors Perennial in USDA zones 10–11; grown as a summer annual elsewhere Pet Safety Not known to be toxic; not rated by the ASPCA Difficulty Level Easy Placement Terrariums, vivariums, containers, indoor plant displays Care Guide Lighting Give it bright, indirect light plus a little gentle direct sun, such as a few hours of morning light. Strong light keeps the growth dense and compact. In low light, the stems stretch and the plant loses its hedge-like shape. Avoid harsh midday or summer sun, which can scorch or bleach the leaves. In a terrarium, a bright LED grow light works well. Watering Keep the soil lightly moist, watering when the top inch starts to feel dry. Don't let it dry out completely or sit in soggy soil. In a terrarium, keep the substrate damp but never waterlogged. Humidity Average room humidity is fine, and it also thrives in the humid air of a terrarium or vivarium. Keep it away from heating vents, which dry out the leaves. In an enclosure, our Automatic Misting System for Terrariums keeps humidity steady with no daily misting. Substrate Use a well-draining potting mix or terrarium substrate so the roots never sit in water. Temperature Keep it between 65–80°F (18–27°C) and above 55°F (13°C). It's frost-tender, so bring outdoor plants inside before cold nights arrive. Fertilization Feed monthly with a balanced liquid fertilizer in spring and summer, and skip feeding in winter. Maintenance Pinch off the stem tips every few weeks to keep it compact and bushy, and remove any yellowing leaves. Because it grows quickly, plants in terrariums need regular trimming to stay in scale. Propagation Snip 2–3 inch stem tips and root them in water or moist potting mix. It's an easy way to fill out a terrarium or start new plants. Placement Suggestions Terrariums and vivariums Desk and tabletop planters Indoor tropical plant displays Containers and window boxes Warm-weather patio arrangements Perfect For Beginners Small-space plant setups Terrarium and vivarium hobbyists Indoor tropical collections Low-maintenance greenery Important Notes Not an aquarium plant. Unlike Alternanthera reineckii, this joyweed grows on land and won't survive long underwater. Needs bright light to stay dense and compact. Fast grower. Pinch it back regularly so it doesn't outgrow small terrariums. Natural variation. Size, fullness, and leaf texture vary, and color and density depend on lighting and care. Photos show a representative plant. Decorative pots shown in photos are not included. Live Arrival Guarantee We guarantee live arrival when our temperature guidelines are followed. If your plant arrives damaged, contact us within 2 hours of delivery with clear photos for a replacement or refund. Extreme weather packaging is required when temperatures are below 40°F or above 100°F. Why Choose Our Florida Ruffle “Green Hedge”? Greenhouse-grown, healthy plants, hand-selected before they ship Unique ruffled foliage texture that fills out any display Compact and beginner-friendly, and easy to shape Two ways to buy: potted and ready to display, or bare root to plant straight into your terrarium Carefully packaged for safe shipping and backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee Curated by PlantedPro, a specialist shop for live plants, terrariums, and aquascaping Your Top 5 Questions — Answered Q. Is Florida Ruffle an aquarium plant like Alternanthera reineckii? = No. Both belong to the same genus, but Florida Ruffle is a land plant that won't survive long underwater. It's made for terrariums, vivariums, and pots. For a true aquatic Alternanthera, choose Alternanthera reineckii — Scarlet Temple. Q. Is Florida Ruffle safe for cats and dogs? = Ornamental Alternanthera isn't known to be poisonous, but the ASPCA hasn't rated it either way. (The ASPCA's "Joseph's Coat" entry refers to a different plant, Iresine.) Eating any plant can upset a sensitive stomach, so it's best to keep it out of reach of pets that like to chew. Q. How big does Florida Ruffle get, and will it outgrow my terrarium? = Ours ship at about 5–8 inches tall. Ornamental Alternanthera typically reaches 6–12 inches tall and spreads wider than it grows tall, and it grows quickly in good light. It's best for medium to large terrariums. Pinch it back every few weeks, and move it to a pot if it gets too big for the enclosure. Q. Why is my Florida Ruffle getting leggy? = Usually, it isn't getting enough light. Move it to a brighter spot with bright, indirect light and a little gentle morning sun, or add a grow light over your terrarium. Then pinch the stem tips to encourage branching, and root the trimmings to fill in any gaps. Q. Can I grow Florida Ruffle outdoors? = Yes, in warm weather. Alternanthera is grown as a perennial in USDA zones 10–11 and as a summer annual elsewhere, in containers, window boxes, and borders. Give it bright light while protecting it from harsh afternoon sun, and bring it indoors before temperatures drop below 55°F (13°C).