Joseph’s coat plants (Alternanthera spp.) are popular for their colorful foliage that includes several shades of burgundy, red, orange, yellow and lime green. Some species have single-or bi-colored leaves, while others have the entire rainbow of color in a single plant. These frost-tender perennials are grown as annuals and range in size from 2-inch dwarfs to 12-inch mounds of foliage. The amount of pinching you put into your Alternanthera plant care routine determines the growth habit of the plant. If you pinch out the growth tips regularly, the plants form a neat mound that looks fantastic in formal borders, and you can also use them in knot gardens. They remain attractive but take on a more casual appearance when you leave them alone.
