Alternanthera Reineckii

The benchmark red stem plant. Alternanthera reineckii — Scarlet Temple, or simply AR — grows broad leaves with green tops and deep red-to-purple undersides on upright bushy stems. It is the plant most people mean when they say they want red in a planted tank, and unlike many red stems it will color without pressurized CO₂.

What You’ll Receive

Enhance your aquarium with our versatile selection of high-quality aquatic plants, available in three convenient formats:

• Fresh-Cut Plants: Includes approximately 6+ loose, fresh-cut stems without roots. Perfect for flexible planting arrangements.
• Fresh-Cut Bunched: Approximately 6+ fresh-cut stems without roots, bundled with foam and a plant weight for easy placement.
• Fresh-Cut Potted: About 6+ fresh-cut stems without roots, securely potted in a net pot with rockwool, ensuring stability and healthy growth.

Plant Profile

• Common name — Scarlet Temple
• Scientific name — Alternanthera reineckii
• Also known as — AR, Telanthera rosefolia
• Origin — South America
• Placement — Midground to background
• Shipped size — Approx. 6+ fresh-cut stems, roughly 4-8 in
• Mature height — 8–16 in
• Suits — 10 gallons and up
• Growth rate — Medium

Care

• Difficulty — Intermediate
• Light — Medium to high. Color intensity tracks light
• 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

• Red on a budget of light, not CO₂. Rotala and Ludwigia reds usually want gas and nitrate management. AR colors mainly on light intensity and iron, which puts real red within reach of a medium-light tank.
• The color sits on the leaf undersides. Position it where light rakes across the group rather than straight down.
• Trim and replant tops repeatedly — that's what turns six stems into the dense red block people buy this plant for.
• It feeds at the roots as well as the water column, so root tabs plus regular dosing beat either alone.
• Other forms in the range: Rosanervig for pink veining at the same 8-16 inch size, Super Magenta for deeper color, or the 3-5 inch dwarfs AR Mini and Rosanervig Mini for nano tanks.

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.