Hemigraphis alternata

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Hemigraphis alternata

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Kemper Code: A514

Common Name: red flame ivy
Zone: 10 to 11
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Acanthaceae
Missouri Native: No
Native Range: India, Java, Malaysia
Height: 0.5 to 0.75 feet
Spread: 1 to 1.5 feet
Bloom Time: Seasonal bloomer
Bloom Color: White
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low

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Plant Culture and Characteristics

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Uses:		Wildlife:	Flowers:	Leaves:	Fruit:
Hedge	Suitable as annual	Attracts birds	Has showy flowers	Leaves colorful	Has showy fruit
Shade tree	Culinary herb	Attracts	Has fragrant flowers	Leaves fragrant	Fruit edible
Street tree	Vegetable	hummingbirds	Flowers not showy	Good fall color	Other:
Flowering tree	Water garden plant	Attracts	Good cut flower	Evergreen	Winter interest
Gr. cover (<1')	Will naturalize	butterflies	Good dried flower		Thorns or spines

General Culture:

Winter hardy to USDA Zones 10-11 where it is best grown in rich, moist, humusy, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Best in part shade, particularly with some protection from the hot afternoon sun. Metallic foliage sheen may not develop well in full sun. In St. Louis, grow in containers, hanging baskets or as an annual ground cover. Propagate vegetatively by cuttings.

Noteworthy Characteristics:

Native to India and Java, hemigraphis (sometimes commonly called red ivy) is a prostrate tropical perennial that typically grows to 6-9” tall and spreads indefinitely along the ground rooting at the stem nodes as it goes. It is primarily valued as a ground cover for its colorful foliage. Toothed, puckered, ovate-cordate leaves (to 3” long) are metallic silvery gray-green above and purple beneath. Tiny, five-lobed, bell-shaped, white flowers in 1” racemes bloom in summer. Flowers are insignificant.

Problems:

No serious insect or disease problems. Watch for scale and whiteflies.

Uses:

Hanging baskets, containers or ground cover.