How to Grow Ruby Lace
Wikimedia Commons
Ruby Lace
Alternanthera dentata 'Ruby Lace'
shrubRuby Lace is a striking ornamental foliage plant prized for its delicate, deeply lobed leaves that display rich burgundy-red coloring with intricate lacey edges. The fine texture and vibrant color make it an excellent choice for adding visual interest to containers, borders, and tropical-style gardens. It's a tender perennial in most climates, often grown as an annual or overwintered indoors.
When should you plant Ruby Lace 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 Ruby Lace timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Ruby Lace
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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Harvest Ruby Lace
Around May 17≈ 30 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Ruby Lace dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 10-11; grow as an annual in cooler climates or overwinter indoors
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Get my Ruby Lace timeline →Growth Stages
Seedling
2-3 weeksTiny leaves emerge with initial green coloring; plant is very delicate and small
Keep soil consistently moist; provide bright indirect light; avoid overwatering which causes damping off
Early Growth
3-4 weeksLeaves expand and begin showing burgundy tinting; plant develops more stems and fuller shape
Gradually increase light exposure; begin pinching tips to encourage bushiness; fertilize weekly with balanced dilute fertilizer
Vegetative Development
4-6 weeksPlant becomes fuller with deeply lobed lacey foliage; rich red coloring intensifies with more light exposure
Continue pinching to maintain bushy, dense form; maintain consistent moisture; feed every 7-10 days with balanced fertilizer
Mature Ornamental
Until frost or plant declinePlant reaches desired size with maximum color intensity and intricate leaf texture fully developed
Maintain regular watering and fertilizing schedule; deadhead any small insignificant flowers; prune to shape as desired
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Increase humidity by misting; spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap; isolate affected plants
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Use yellow sticky traps; spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap; improve air circulation
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Remove with rubbing alcohol on cotton swab; spray with insecticidal soap; quarantine infected plants
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and
Hand-pick in early morning; use copper tape barriers; apply diatomaceous earth around base
Uses
Ornamental Container & Bedding Plant
HouseholdRuby Lace excels in mixed container plantings, hanging baskets, and garden beds where its delicate burgundy lacey foliage provides striking textural contrast and vibrant color. Its fine texture complements broader-leaved plants and fills spaces with intricate detail. [source]
Indoor Houseplant
HouseholdIn cooler climates, Ruby Lace grows beautifully as a tender houseplant under bright indoor light, adding tropical flair to windowsills and shelves. It can be overwintered indoors to survive freezing temperatures. [source]
Cut Foliage for Arrangements
CraftThe delicate, deeply cut leaves make excellent filler material for fresh flower arrangements and floral designs. Stems last several days in water and add fine texture to bouquets. [source]
Garden Design & Habitat Structure
WildlifeThe dense, intricate foliage provides shelter and nesting material for small insects and beneficial arthropods, supporting garden biodiversity while creating visual interest. [source]
Harvest Tips
Ruby Lace is not typically harvested for yield but rather enjoyed as living ornamental foliage. Pinch stems regularly (every 2-3 weeks) to encourage bushiness and maintain desired shape. Remove any lower leaves that become sparse. Cuttings taken in summer root easily in water or moist soil for propagation.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Ruby Lace is a cultivar of Alternanthera dentata, a plant native to South America, and was bred specifically for its ornamental lacey foliage rather than as a traditional food or medicinal plant.
- 🌱 The plant's deep burgundy color intensifies dramatically with more sunlight exposure; plants grown in shade will display far less vibrant red tones and more green coloring.
- 🌱 Ruby Lace produces tiny, almost inconspicuous white or pale pink flowers, but these are not the main ornamental feature—the main attraction is the dramatically textured and colored foliage itself.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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