Joseph's Coat?

[Ldyjarhead]

I received this small plant at the local VA Hospital greenhouse and was told it was Joseph's Coat and would serve well as a houseplant or in the garden. It has almost heart shaped leaves starting out as green, then pink and cream nearer the top where they start to curl a little.

I've googled Joseph's Coat and come up with various things from roses to Spiraea Japonica Shirobana but none that look like this one. It's a very pretty plant and I'd love to put it in my bedroom or garden, but it would help to know where it would be better suited.

For size reference, the photos show it in a small 4" pot.

[Newt]

Hi Ldyjarhead,

As you've already discovered there are many plants with the same common name. There is a plant that is called Joseph's Coat that is known botanically as Alternanthera. Your plant might be Alternanthera ficoidea. These plants are only hardy to zone 8, so they won't survive your winters outdoors. Here's some of the selected named varieties you can look at from this site where you can read the descriptions.
http://www.raretrees.org/alte84.html

Alternanthera ficoidea 'Bittzekiana'
http://www.raretrees.org/alterficbittzeckiana.jpg

Alternanthera ficoidea 'Big Red'
http://www.plantcare.com/encyclopedi...hera-2106.aspx

You may have to wait until it blooms to tell what you have.

Newt

[Ldyjarhead]

Hi Ldyjarhead,

As you've already discovered there are many plants with the same common name. There is a plant that is called Joseph's Coat that is known botanically as Alternanthera. Your plant might be Alternanthera ficoidea. These plants are only hardy to zone 8, so they won't survive your winters outdoors.
You may have to wait until it blooms to tell what you have.

Newt

Thanks, I think you've nailed it. I googled and found loads of pictures, some that look very similar to this (and of course others that look nothing like it).

I'm a bit disappointed that it won't do well in my yard here as I've just yanked out a bunch of old overgrown shrubs and have some naked spots, but since my new bedding is sage and rose colored on a beige background, this will do just as nicely in a pot in my bedroom.

[Newt]

You are very welcome! If you need help with selecting shrubs that won't outgrow their alloted space, just let me know the sun conditions, space available (height and width), evergreen or deciduous, flower color if any and your hardiness zone and I'll try and help. Ohio has hardiness zones 5 and 6, so let me know what your zone is.
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/c...ps/OHhardy.jpg
http://www.gardenweb.com/zones/zip.cgi

Newt

[Ldyjarhead]

You are very welcome! If you need help with selecting shrubs that won't outgrow their alloted space, just let me know the sun conditions, space available (height and width), evergreen or deciduous, flower color if any and your hardiness zone and I'll try and help. Ohio has hardiness zones 5 and 6, so let me know what your zone is.

Newt

Thanks, I may take you up on that, but not sure if I'll get to it this year. I've run out of money and still so much to do in the house. I have scads of hosta to be moved around and plenty of flower seeds, so may fill it up with that for the time being and look at something larger and more permanent down the road.

[Newt]

I do understand the money issue and renovations. We've been renovating our house and have had to do it in stages.

Newt