Alternanthera reineckii is a classic South American stem plant that delivers strong colour contrast in planted aquascapes. The leaves have a distinctive two-tone appearance — green on the upper surface and deep red-to-purple on the underside — creating a striking visual impact when planted in groups.
It performs best under medium to bright lighting, and CO2 supplementation is recommended to bring out the full colour intensity and encourage vigorous growth. Without CO2 it will survive but the red tones tend to fade. Propagation is easy: trim the tops and replant as cuttings, and the original stems will branch and become bushier.
Plant in groups of three or more stems for maximum effect in the midground or background.