Alternanthera Lilacina Vitro Culture

Two colors on one leaf. Alternanthera reineckii 'Lilacina' carries light pink to red on the upper surface over violet-purple undersides — so the plant shifts appearance depending on where you view it from. It also holds that color without demanding high light or CO₂, which is unusual in the group. This is the sterile Vitro Culture® format.

What You’ll Receive

• Sold as a Tissue Culture Plants with vitamin liquid/gel
• Packaging May Vary! To be sent in either in vitro bag or cup
• Bag / Cup size: Approx. 2.5 x 2.5 inches
• Sustainable growth aquarium plants species
• Great value! Nice specimen!
• Tissue Culture Technology | 100% Free from Snail, Algae, Pathogen, and Bacteria plus Extended Shelf Life on all in Vitro Plants

Plant Profile

• Common name — Purple Scarlet Temple
• Scientific name — Alternanthera reineckii 'Lilacina'
• Also known as — Alternanthera reineckii 'Burgunderrot', Alternanthera Purple Lila, Telanthera Lilacina
• Origin — South America (species range)
• Placement — Midground
• Shipped size — Small tissue-cultured plantlets, roughly 1-2 in
• Mature height — 8–16 in
• Suits — 10 gallons and up
• Growth rate — Medium

Care

• Difficulty — Intermediate
• Light — Medium to high
• CO₂ — Recommended, not required
• Water — 72–82°F · pH 6.0–7.5
• Substrate — Required. Nutrient-rich substrate
• Growth habit — Amphibious. Also grows emersed
• Propagation — Cuttings — trim and replant stem tops

Grower’s Notes

• Position it for the undersides. The violet-purple sits beneath the leaf. Planted where light rakes across the group from the side or front, both colors show; lit straight down from above, you only get the pink-red top.
• It holds color at lower light than most red stems — a practical option if you want purple in a medium-light tank.
• Trim and replant tops; repeated topping builds density.
• Separate the plantlets and space them an inch apart so light reaches the lower leaves.
• Rinse the gel off completely before planting or it clouds water and feeds algae early on. Also available as loose fresh-cut stems.

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.