Alternanthera Lilacina

Want two colors from one plant? Alternanthera reineckii 'Lilacina' carries light pink to red on the upper leaf and violet-purple underneath, so the stand shifts color as leaves catch the light at different angles. It is a Dutch-style staple for exactly that reason.

What You’ll Receive

• Sold as loose Fresh-cut plants, Bunched plants, or Potted plants
• Fresh-cut plants | Approx. 6 stems, loose fresh-cut stems without root
• Bunched plants | Approx. 6 fresh-cut stems without root, bundled with foam, and plant's weight
• Potted plants | Approx. 6 fresh-cut stems without root, potted with net pot and rockwool

Plant Profile

• Common name — Purple Scarlet Temple, also known as Alternanthera Purple Lila
• Scientific name — Alternanthera reineckii 'Lilacina'
• Also known as — A. reineckii 'Burgunderrot', Telanthera Lilacina
• Origin — South America (species range)
• Placement — Foreground to midground, kept low by trimming
• Shipped size — Approx. 6 fresh-cut stems, roughly 4-8 in
• Mature height — 8–16 in untrimmed
• Suits — 10 gallons and up
• Growth rate — Medium

Care

• Difficulty — Intermediate
• Light — Medium to high. It holds color better in moderate light than most red plants
• CO₂ — Recommended, not required
• Water — 72–82°F · pH 6.0–7.5
• Substrate — Required. Root and water column feeder
• Growth habit — Amphibious. Also grows emersed
• Propagation — Cuttings — trim and replant stem tops

Grower’s Notes

• It keeps its color in moderate light. Most red stem plants go olive-green without high output lighting. Lilacina holds its pink and purple further down the light scale, which makes it one of the few realistic color plants for a mid-tech tank.
• The purple undersides are half the effect. Plant it where the leaves are viewed from slightly below or side-on rather than straight down.
• Trim regularly and replant the tops. Topping forces branching, which is what turns a few stems into a dense block of color.
• Root tabs help. It draws from both roots and water column, but the color deepens noticeably in a nutrient substrate with iron available.
• Also available as sterile Lilacina Vitro Culture.

Want to go deeper? Read our complete Alternanthera Care Guide.

Notes

• Pictures are not the actual plants you will receive, but a sample representation. Unless specific, we don't guarantee aquatic plants will be free of pests, and pesticides, grow emerged or submerge.
• Never release aquarium plants into natural waterways.

At a glance

• Free shipping on orders of $150 or more (after discounts) within the contiguous United States, by USPS.
• Free thermal protection is included with every shipment, all year round.
• Processing: most orders leave us within 1 to 2 business days. Tracking is emailed when your order ships.
• USPS (2 to 5 business days) ships Monday through Saturday.
• UPS 2nd Day Air® ships Monday through Wednesday. Order by Tuesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
• UPS Next Day Air® ships Monday through Thursday. Order by Wednesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
• Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and military addresses ship by USPS at a flat rate shown at checkout.
• Weather holds: during extreme heat or cold we may hold live orders until it's safe to ship.
• We ship within the United States only.

Please bring live plants indoors and unpack them the day they arrive. Every live order is covered by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee.

The complete rules, including lost packages and address issues, are in our Shipping Policy. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.

Every live order is backed by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee. If a plant arrives dead, we'll make it right.

How it works

• Tell us within 24 hours of the delivery time on your tracking.
• Send photos of the affected items in their original, unopened packaging, plus a photo of the shipping label, to hello@aquariumplantsfactory.com with your order number.
• We'll make it right with a replacement, store credit or refund for the affected item.

Good to know

• Some melting or yellowing as plants adjust from greenhouse to aquarium life is normal. They regrow from healthy roots and rhizomes.
• Please bring your package indoors and unpack it the day it arrives.
• Free promotional items and shipping charges are not covered.

The complete rules, including what's covered and what voids the guarantee, are in our Returns, Refunds & Live Arrival Guarantee. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.

Please review your state's regulations on restricted plants, as we are committed to not shipping plants that are restricted in your area. Do not release any plants into the wild or waterways, as this can harm local ecosystems by introducing invasive species.

Your cooperation in protecting the environment is appreciated. For continuously updated information, refer to the USDA State Noxious Weed list here.

Thank you for your responsible commitment to environmental preservation.