Alternanthera reineckii — Scarlet Temple

Broad leaves in deep red, pink, and violet — one of the most dramatic colors in the hobby

Add a dramatic splash of color to your aquascape with Scarlet Temple — prized for broad, striking foliage in deep red, pink, and burgundy-violet tones that few aquatic plants can match. Its rich color creates an immediate focal point and stunning contrast against traditional green plants, bringing real depth and dimension to a planted tank. It grows at a slow-to-medium pace and, when trimmed, forms dense bushy clusters that offer excellent shelter and foraging grounds for shrimp and peaceful community fish. It yields its most intense reds under strong light with CO2, but it's hardy enough to grow steadily in basic setups too — making it a great first colorful plant for beginners and a staple for experienced scapers.

⊕ AQUASCAPING TIP: Brighter light deepens the red and violet tones — this is the single biggest factor in color. Scarlet Temple is also a root feeder, so a root tab tucked near the base noticeably improves both growth and color. Plant stems 1–2 inches deep, spaced slightly apart so the lower leaves still get light, and trim the tops regularly, replanting the cuttings to build the dense, bushy clusters this plant is known for.

AT A GLANCE

CARE GUIDE

CUSTOMER QUESTIONS ANSWERED

It melted and dropped leaves after planting — is it dying?

No — minor leaf melt is common and completely expected with this plant, and it's the thing new keepers worry about most. Scarlet Temple is usually grown emersed (above water) at the nursery, so when it goes into your tank it sheds some of those emersed-grown leaves while it adjusts to your water parameters and converts to submerged growth. The stems stay alive throughout. Don't discard it: trim away any fully melted leaves, keep your conditions stable, and within a couple of weeks you'll see fresh submerged growth coming in — typically better colored than the leaves it dropped. A short adjustment period is normal, not a defect.

How do I get the deepest red and violet color?

Three things drive it: light, feeding, and CO2. Brighter light is the biggest factor — under medium-to-high lighting, the leaves deepen into rich red, pink, and violet, while in lower light they stay paler and greener. Feeding matters too: Scarlet Temple is a root feeder, so root tabs near the base plus regular liquid fertilizer make a real difference to color intensity. CO2 isn't strictly required, but it's highly recommended for the most vibrant color and robust growth. The newest top growth always shows the best color, so give fresh growth time to develop under your lighting. Even in a basic setup, it grows steadily — it just colors up more modestly.

It's growing slowly — and how do I make it bushy instead of leggy?

Slow-to-medium growth is normal for this plant, and it's actually an advantage: far less trimming than fast stem plants, and it holds its shape in a scape. Don't mistake steady, slow growth for a problem. To build the dense, bushy look, trim the tops at your preferred height and replant the cuttings alongside the parent stems — each trimmed stem branches from the cut point, and the replanted tops root and grow, thickening the stand over time. Also, space stems slightly apart when planting so the lower leaves receive adequate light; crowding them causes lower leaves to drop and stems to go leggy.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Healthy Scarlet Temple (Alternanthera reineckii) stems, 6+ inches, ready to plant on arrival. Gently rinse and remove the lowest leaves, then insert each stem 1–2 inches into a nutrient-rich substrate, spaced slightly apart. Minor leaf melt as it adjusts to your water is normal (see the FAQ). Because these are natural live specimens, slight variations in size, shade, and color from the sample photos are completely normal.

Pro tip for a healthy tank: We recommend quarantining all new live plants before adding them to an established display to avoid introducing unwanted hitchhikers like pest snails. For soft-leaved stem plants like Scarlet Temple, a gentle rinse and quarantine period are the safest approach — harsh disinfecting dips can compound the natural leaf melt this plant already goes through during transition.

📦 Ships within 10–15 business days. Live arrival guaranteed.