Alternanthera ocipus

Alternanthera ocipus is a compact, bushy stem plant from tropical South America featuring narrow, lanceolate leaves with rich copper-to-red undersides and olive-green upper surfaces that create attractive two-tone colour contrast. It forms dense, mound-like clusters when trimmed regularly, making it ideal for structured midground accent groupings in Dutch-style and Nature Aquarium compositions. A nutrient-rich environment with CO₂ supplementation and high light brings out the deepest copper and red tones.

Plant in nutrient-rich substrate under high-intensity lighting (40+ PAR). Inject CO₂ at 20–30 ppm for best coloration. Provide a balanced fertilizer regimen with adequate iron and phosphate for red pigmentation. Trim the tops regularly to promote lateral branching and dense, bushy growth. Soft to moderately hard water at pH 6.0–7.5.