Brazilian Joyweed Alternanthera

Brazilian joyweed is a colorful, upright foliage plant in the amaranth family, with red-to-purple leaves and small, understated flower heads. In warm climates it can be grown as a perennial; in cooler regions it is often treated as an annual for summer beds, borders, and containers. ## Garden character and placement A landscape profile for the species lists plants near 2 feet tall and wide, with ovate leaves and small white to greenish-white flowers in summer. The foliage provides the main design effect, especially alongside lighter green plants. Give it light shade or a brighter site with moisture and good drainage. The [Texas Tech plant profile](https://www.depts.ttu.edu/plantresources/Pages/directories/landscape-info-sheets/herbaceous-info/Alternanthera_brasiliana.php) summarizes these landscape traits; [Kew](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:10294-2) recognizes the species name and taxonomy. ## Regional considerations Brazilian joyweed is native to tropical America, and performance depends on climate and local management. UF/IFAS assigns it a high invasion-risk result in its Florida predictive assessment, so gardeners in Florida should follow current local guidance and avoid uncontrolled spread. That regional assessment does not describe every climate or planting situation. ## Maintenance Keep the soil evenly moist during active growth while allowing excess water to drain. Pinch or trim stems if a denser outline is desired, and remove unwanted growth before it spreads beyond the intended bed. In areas with frost, grow it as a seasonal foliage plant or protect it from cold.