Alternanthera reineckii Lilacina

Alternanthera reineckii 'Lilacina' is a colour form selected for the distinctive lilac to lavender tones on its leaf undersides, contrasting with its pale pink to reddish upper leaf surface. This softer colouration makes it a versatile accent plant that bridges the gap between green and intense red plantings. Like other AR forms it requires high light and CO2 for optimal colour development, but its slightly more muted tones make it effective even when conditions are not perfectly optimised. It is a welcome compositional alternative to the more saturated AR 'Mini'.

Light: High (60–90 PAR); lilac-pink colouration best expressed under strong lighting. CO2: Required at 20–30 mg/L; without CO2 leaves remain primarily green. Fertiliser: Iron and micronutrient supplementation weekly; balanced NPK important. Planting: Midground groups of 5–7 stems spaced 2 cm; trim every 3–4 weeks. Growth: Slow; 10–25 cm; slow growth makes this a low-maintenance colour accent.