Iresine diffusa f. herbstii, Herbst's Iresine
Iresine diffusa f. herbstii
- Exposures
- Sun, Half-shade
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 10b (1.7°C ≤ T° < 4.4°C)
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Family
- Amaranthaceae
- Genus
- Iresine
- Species
- Herbst Iresine Iresine diffusa f. herbstii
Other names:Iresine herbstii, Iresine diffusa
Chicken Gizzard, Bloodleaf or Beefsteak plant... English speakers have no shortage of colourful, bloody adjectives to describe Iresine diffusa f. Herbstii. In French, we felt that the scarlet foliage spoke for itself and preferred not to add any more. This plant of the Amaranthaceae family, native to Peru, was soberly nicknamed Iresine d'Herbst.
How to recognize Herbst's Iresine, Iresine diffusa f. Herbstii?
Iresine d'Herbst is an upright, bushy herbaceous perennial. In the wild, it grows to a height of two meters. In cultivation, it grows to a maximum height of 60 centimetres, with a spread of 45 centimetres.
The red stems are covered with cilia at the nodes. Fleshy and branched, they can be straight or creeping.
Heart-shaped or oblong leaves measure two to six centimetres long. They are sharply veined, glossy and lighter than the rest of the foliage. Color depends on the variety. Iresine diffusa f. Herbstii has purple limbs, while iresine herbstii 'Purple Lady and iresine herbstii 'Acuminata oscillate between purple and raspberry. Only iresine herbstii 'Aureoreticulata' has green leaves.
Pale yellow or greenish-white flowers bloomin summer. They are arranged in panicles and measure 1.5 centimetres at best.
Herbst Iris then produces fruit. They resemble membranous capsules.
Iresine diffusa f. Herbstii is non-toxic. Good news for gardeners who have to make plants and pets cohabit!
Our care tips
There's a simple trick to finding out if your Herbst Iresine is thirsty. Look at its foliage. If the plant sags and looks limp, it needs water. Once watered, it will regain its upright habit.
Watering
Wait until the surface of the soil has dried by two or three centimetres before watering again.
Pour in water at room temperature. The substrate should be moist but not soggy. Drain any water that collects in the cup or planter.
Misting
Spraying foliage with non-calcareous water (e.g. Mineral water or rainwater) helps to maintain humidity levels.
Repotting
Every year in the spring, repot your Iresine diffusa f. Herbstii to give it more space.
Obtain a pierced pot with a slightly larger diameter than the previous one (two centimetres larger, for example). You can line the bottom with a bed of clay balls to optimize drainage.
Herbst Iresines need a rich, aerated substrate. Mix perlite (approx. 10%) with potting soil for green plants. Pour in a layer of soil.
Plant your Herbst Iresine in the center of the pot. Add potting soil and tamp lightly. Water with room-temperature water to encourage rooting and remove air bubbles.
Fertilization
To promote the growth of your Iresine diffusa f. Herbstii, apply fertilizer in spring and summer.
Apply a special green plant fertilizer every three weeks to stimulate foliage growth.
Prune
Pruning before wintering helps the plant regenerate.
Do a winter pruning to force the plant into dormancy. Shorten stems with clean, sharp pruning shears. Remove about half the year's growth.
Pinch
Pinch your Iresine diffusa f. Herbstii during its growing season.
Use your fingers to pinch the tips of the branches. This forces the plant to create new branches and helps maintain a compact habit.
Planting
When the risk of frost has passed, it's time to plant.
Place your Herbst Iresine in part shade or full sun. Make sure, however, that the plant does not face due south. The midday sun could burn its foliage.
Dig a hole slightly larger than the root ball. Put some compost in the bottom. Plant your plant. Mix your garden soil with the heather soil and use this mixture to fill the hole.
Make a layer of organic mulch at least five centimetres thick. It will help keep the soil cool and reduce watering during the summer.
Taking cuttings
Cutting is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.
Using your pre-cleaned scissors, remove a ten- to fifteen-centimeter stem (about three nodes). Remove the leaf at the base of your cutting.
Pour potting soil into a bucket. Plant your cutting in the center.
Cover with a transparent bag or place in a mini greenhouse. Propagation works best under cover. Set up in a bright room with a temperature of at least 20°.
Mist the substrate to keep it moist, and aerate for a few minutes a day.
Diseases / Threats
Information
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Exposures
- SunHalf-shade
- Substrate
- Humus soil
- Planting methods
- Open groundIn potsIn tubsPlanter
- Categories
- IndoorHerbaceous
- Tags
- Cold-sensitiveThirsty
- Origin
- South America
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 10b (1.7°C ≤ T° < 4.4°C)
- Leaf color
- Purple
- Flower colors
- WhitePale green
Discover plants from the same family
Iresine 'Purple Lady
Iresine herbstii ‘Purple Lady’
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
