How to Grow Maroon Beauty
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Maroon Beauty
Alternanthera dentata 'Maroon Beauty'
flowerMaroon Beauty is a striking ornamental foliage plant prized for its deep burgundy-maroon leaves with purple undersides. It grows as a compact, bushy perennial or tender annual, typically reaching 12-18 inches tall. This tropical plant is popular in containers, borders, and bedding displays for its dramatic color contrast.
When should you plant Maroon Beauty in your zone?
Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.
Example Maroon Beauty timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Maroon Beauty
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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First Maroon Beauty blooms
Around May 17≈ 30 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Maroon Beauty dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives year-round in zones 10-11; grown as an annual elsewhere or brought indoors for winter
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Get my Maroon Beauty timeline →Growth Stages
Seedling
1-2 weeksTiny plants with first true leaves emerging; delicate with light green coloring
Keep soil warm (70-75°F) and consistently moist; provide bright indirect light; avoid overwatering
Vegetative Growth
3-4 weeksPlants develop bushy habit with multiple stems; maroon coloring begins to intensify
Pinch growing tips to encourage bushiness; feed weekly with balanced liquid fertilizer; maintain warm conditions
Established Plant
4-8 weeksFull bushy form with deep burgundy foliage; develops small cream-colored flower spikes
Continue pinching for desired shape; maintain consistent moisture and warmth; deadhead flowers if foliage display is priority
Flowering
Ongoing in warm conditionsSmall elongated white or cream flower spikes appear among the foliage
Flowers are less showy than foliage; remove for better plant shape if desired; continue regular fertilizing
Decline (Cool Season)
Variable with climateGrowth slows in fall/winter; leaves may fade; plant becomes less vigorous
Reduce watering and fertilizing; move to warmer location if possible; in frost zones, bring indoors or treat as annual
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Spray with water to dislodge; use neem oil or insecticidal soap if severe; increase humidity
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Yellow sticky traps; neem oil spray; insecticidal soap; ensure good air circulation
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Remove with rubbing alcohol on cotton swab; spray neem oil; isolate affected plants
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and
Hand-pick; use beer traps; apply diatomaceous earth around base
Uses
Edible ornamental
CulinaryLeaves are technically edible and have a mild, slightly bitter flavor. Some cultures use Alternanthera species in salads and cooked dishes, though Maroon Beauty is primarily grown for ornamental purposes. [source]
Container and bedding displays
HouseholdMaroon Beauty excels in mixed containers, hanging baskets, borders, and massed plantings where its dark foliage provides striking contrast to bright flowers or light-colored plants. [source]
Floral arrangements and design
CraftThe deep maroon leaves are excellent filler material in fresh or dried floral arrangements, adding depth and color contrast to bouquets and landscape designs. [source]
Indoor houseplant
HouseholdMaroon Beauty grows well as a houseplant indoors on bright windowsills or under grow lights, adding tropical color to homes during winter months when outdoor growing is impossible. [source]
Pollinator habitat
WildlifeThe small flowers attract beneficial insects including butterflies, hoverflies, and bees, supporting pollinator populations in gardens and containers. [source]
Harvest Tips
This is a foliage plant, not harvested for produce. Pinch off growing tips regularly starting when plants are 4-6 inches tall to encourage bushiness. Remove flower spikes if foliage display is the priority. Cuttings can be propagated in water or moist soil year-round for new plants.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Maroon Beauty is not winter-hardy in most of North America and must be treated as a tender annual or brought indoors; gardeners often overwinter cuttings or mature plants to replant the following spring
- 🌱 The intensity of the maroon-burgundy color deepens with more sunlight exposure—plants grown in partial shade will be greener, while full-sun plants develop the rich, deep maroon coloring for which the variety is named
- 🌱 Alternanthera species are used in aquascaping and aquarium environments as attractive aquatic plants, though terrestrial Maroon Beauty should not be permanently submerged
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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