Iresine 'Purple Lady' in pot
Iresine herbstii 'Purple Lady' in pot
Red leaves Iresine 'Purple Lady
Contents
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
Iresine herbstii 'Purple Lady', deep purple
Contents
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
Iresine herbstii 'Purple Lady' belongs to the Amaranthaceae family. It is a cultivar obtained from herbst Iresine, a plant native to Peru. The characteristics of this hybrid? A compact habit and very dark purple foliage.
How to recognize Iresine herbstii 'Purple Lady'?
Iresine herbstii 'Purple Lady' is an herbaceous perennial with a creeping or drooping habit. Smaller and more compact than other varieties of Iresine, it grows to no more than 30 cm high and 80 cm wide.
The fleshy, reddish stems are branched. They bear cilia at the internodes.
The oval to elliptical leaves are deep purple, wine-red or almost black. Unlike iresine herbstii 'Acuminata, the veins are sparsely marked and the margin slightly wavy.
Flowering consists of clusters of white flowers grouped in panicles. Rarely seen indoors at our latitudes.
The appearance of the fruits, membranous capsules protecting the seeds, is even more exceptional.
Iresine herbstii 'Purple Lady' is non-toxic to pets and humans. You can safely add it to your collection of houseplants.
Our maintenance tips
There's a simple trick to finding out if your Iresine 'Purple Lady 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.
Spray
Spraying foliage with non-calcareous water (e.g. Mineral water or rainwater) helps to maintain humidity levels.
Repotting
Every spring, repot your Iresine herbstii ‘Purple Lady’ 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.
Iresine herbstii 'Purple Lady need a rich, aerated substrate. Mix perlite (approx. 10%) with potting soil for green plants. Pour in a layer of soil.
Plant your Iresine 'Purple Lady 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 herbstii ‘Purple Lady’, 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 herbstii ‘Purple Lady’ 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.
Plantation
When the risk of frost has passed, it's time to plant.
Place your Iresine 'Purple Lady 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.
Cutting
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
| Family | Amaranthaceae - Amaranthaceae |
| Type | Iresine - Iresine |
| Species | Herbst Iresine - Iresine diffusa f. herbstii |
| Lifecycle | Perennial |
| Foliage | Evergreen |
| Exposures | |
| Substrat | |
| Planting methods |
Open ground In pots In tubs Planter |
| Categories | |
| Tags |
Fritillary Soiffarde |
| Origin |
South America |
| Hardiness (USDA) | 10b |
| Leaf color |
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| Flower color |
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