Calico plant (Alternanthera bettzickiana) care guide

Group
Plants
Other names
Calico-plant, Alternanthera amoena, Joseph's coat
Family
Amaranthaceae (amaranth family)
Origin
South America; naturalised in south-eastern Queensland
Water
freshwater
Maximum size
50 cm
Temperature
15–30°C
pH
6–7.5
Hardness
Tolerant (estimate)
Care level
expert
Lighting
Bright light, emersed; full sun to part shade

Care

Warning: this is a land (or at most bog) plant, not a true aquarium plant. Kept fully underwater it slowly weakens and dies, so it is best grown emersed in a paludarium, or with only its roots in the water. Calico plant (family Amaranthaceae) is a bushy perennial herb from South America, grown widely as a colourful edging plant in gardens, especially in China. Wikipedia describes it from woodland and roadsides in sun or part shade, not from water. It grows 20–50 cm tall, with small, slightly wavy leaves in green, red, or green flushed red or yellow. It turns up in shops as a red 'aquarium' plant, but it does not grow properly submerged. Grow it in a paludarium or on a damp bank with its roots in wet soil. Water figures are our estimate, not from the sources. Its leaves are eaten as a vegetable in parts of Asia. Sources: Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternantherabettzickiana); Wikipedia, List of freshwater aquarium plant species. Checked October 2026.

Breeding

Stem cuttings root easily in moist soil or with their bases in water.

Compatibility and tank mates

Do not sell or buy it as a true aquarium plant; it belongs in a paludarium, bog garden or damp border. Grown emersed it does not interact with fish.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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