Alternanthera bettzickiana, commonly known as “Joseph’s Coat” or “Calico-plant”, is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaranthaceae, commonly known as the “amaranth” (Amaranthus). The genus Alternanthera is estimated to have between 80 and 200 species, most of which occur in the tropical Americas, and some in Asia, Africa, and Australia. Most species are spreading plants like Alternanthera bettzickiana, and several are aquatic in habit.

Alternanthera bettzickiana probably originated in Brazil, but is very widely cultivated, and today it is a popular ornamental in tropical and subtropical gardens. It is commonly cultivated in Asia where it is especially popular in China, and also in Africa, North America, Central America, the Caribbean, South America, Europe and Oceania

Joseph’s coat is an herbaceous perennial herb which grows around 20 to 50cm tall, and in its native habitat it is found with stems that can be either erect, or creeping and much-branched, and the leaf blades can be green or red, various shades of purple, or sometimes tinged with both red and yellow. The inflorescence is a spike or a rounded head occurring in the leaf axils or the ends of branches.

Garden varieties are more compact and are available in gorgeous leaf shades of rose, pink, red, yellow, bronze, green, purple, and cream. And, although the plant will grow in semi-aquatic situations, this species is not the invasive nuisance that its close relative, alligator weed, is.

Alligator weed, (Alternanthera philoxeroides) is a very well-known South American species which was spread to many countries. It has become a noxious weed in many parts of the world, as it quickly creates a floating mass which spreads out over water, and its rampant growth quickly disrupts the ecology of banks and shallows, crowding out native plant species, restricting the flow of the water, increasing sedimentation, and aggravating flooding, amongst other unfavourable consequences.
Click here to see Google images of Alligator Weed

There are no published reports about the invasiveness of A. bettzickiana, and in most of the countries where it occurs it is reported only as an ornamental species. In Texas it is not considered as a threat to native plant communities, although it is known to occasionally escape and grow in disturbed areas close to where it was originally grown. The same applies for India and Taiwan where it is reported as common but not invasive.  

However, in the British Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Peru and St. Lucia, A. bettzickiana has escaped and naturalized. So, even though it is not listed as being invasive in South Africa, and in many other countries where it is grown, I believe that we should still be cautious with this species, and never ever plant it near wild areas where it could encroach. Rather keep it securely in the garden where you can keep an eye on it.

Alternanthera bettzickiana 'Yellow'Uses:

Intensive agricultural practices include feeding and spraying programmes that result in higher heavy metal contamination of both the soil and water, and studies done to evaluate the morpho-physiological and biochemical response along with phyto-extraction potential of Alternanthera bettzickiana for cobalt (Co) and copper (Cu) contaminated soil concluded that A. bettzickiana is a potential hyper accumulator and halophyte of Co and Cu, and therefore an excellent potential candidate for the remediation of Cu and Co contaminated sites.

In the Kitchen:

The tender leaves have a mild flavour and can be eaten raw in salads, or cooked like spinach and used in soups. The leaves are also mixed with other vegetables and served with staple foods like rice, and ugali or sima, a type of stiff maize-flour porridge made in Africa.

Health Benefits:

Alternanthera bettzickiana is useful in purifying and nourishing the blood, and the cooked vegetable is given to anaemic children in order to improve their health. It is acclaimed for its wound healing characteristics, and is used as a soft laxative. It is also known as a galactagogue that increases milk supply, and an antipyretic that reduces fever.

Investigations evaluating the preliminary phytochemical screening and antimicrobial activity of aerial parts of Alternanthera bettzickiana, tested against various Gram positive, Gram negative bacteria and fungi concluded that a plant extract of A. bettzickiana showed remarkable antimicrobial activity due to the phytochemicals present in them.

Alternanthera bettzickiana 'Red'In the Garden & Home:

Joseph’s coat is a popular ornamental worldwide and is particularly popular in China, where it is cultivated in all the large cities, where it thrives in full sun to partial shade. Because the plant has an extensive root system it is planted in plantations as a ground cover to prevent soil erosion. The plant can even be trimmed and grown as a low hedge. This little plant is great for adding impact and contrast to mixed borders and plantings, including pots.

Garden varieties with dark purple or red leaves really stand out in the garden, and being of a darker hue they always make excellent background subjects for mass plantings with paler shades in the foreground. However, use them sparingly to avoid creating an overall dark overtone to the landscape.

Joseph’s coat can even be grown indoors, and is a well-known terrarium plant, and if grown in strong light, the foliage colour will remain intense.

Even though Alternanthera bettzickiana is not a true aquatic plant, it is highly recommended for aquariums as it provides great coverage for sensitive aquatic species, and is an easier choice for beginners who are looking for coloured aquarium plants. Because of its ability to survive underwater for a long period of time, many hobbyists use this plant in as an alternative for other true aquatic plants, because they claim it can last longer than some of the true aquatic plants, and may even grow a few inches taller and develop roots in the aquarium.

However, it can only be submerged for several months at a time, after which it should be removed from the water for a few months so it can restore its energy before being submerged once again. For this reason it would be worthwhile to cultivate more than one at a time in order to always have one ready for the aquarium. When grow emerged, or out of the water, the plant should be kept in a consistently humid environment with wet soil.

Alternanthera 'purple'Cultivation/Propagation:

This joyful little plant grows as an evergreen perennial in the warm, moist, frost free, subtropical regions of the country. In the winter rainfall regions it will need moderate watering during the dry months, and in the cold regions of the country it is semi-hardy to moderate frost. In cold regions, mulch the roots well in autumn, and even if the plant does die down in winter, it will more often than not re-sprout again in spring.

The plant is highly recommended for regions with saline soils, and this salt tolerance makes it ideal for coastal gardens. And, although it adapts to most garden soils, in poor soils try to add as much organic matter as you can in order to encourage lush growth and to conserve moisture, as the plants look at their best if watered regularly. In order to keep their bright colours the leaves require sunshine, so site your plants where they receive full sun or partial shade.

This plant will keep its vibrant red and pink hues with relative ease, but if nutrients and lighting are severely lacking, the leaves can ‘dull out’ to an orange hue, so ensure that it receives sufficient sunlight, and feed regularly with a balanced plant food with. 

Regular trimming will keep the plant vigorous and neat.

It is easily propagated by cuttings.

Problems, Pests & Diseases:

Alternanthera bettzickiana is remarkably pest-resistant, but is a major host of the cactus mealybug (Hypogeococcus pungens). Cactus mealybugs can attack a wide range of houseplants and greenhouse ornamentals, including cacti and succulents, African violets, ferns and orchids.

Keep an eye out for any white spots on your plants and remove them immediately. There are a few ways to get rid of mealybugs, depending on the level of infestation. If there are only a couple, you can either scrape them off one by one, or for bigger infestations you can spray on rubbing alcohol or soapy water and oil, or simply apply a systemic insecticide

Warning:

I found no known hazards listed for Alternanthera bettzickiana