Rare Iresines – Colourful Foliage

Iresines are tropical ornamental plants celebrated for their spectacular foliage, widely known as "Bloodleaf" or "Chicken Gizzard". Belonging to the Amaranthaceae family, they originate from Central and South America and stand out for their intensely coloured leaves: vivid red, purple, pink, green and yellow. At Fuchsia Delhommeau, we select rare varieties, carefully grown to ensure healthy and vigorous plants.

What types of Iresine are available?

Our collection features several varieties with unique foliage:

Red Iresine: the classic essential, with vivid red foliage that is highly decorative.
Purple and pink Iresine (Alternanthera 'Raspberry Rum'): an elegant two-tone foliage.
Iresine Robusta Rubra: a particularly vigorous variety with deep red tones.
Red and green Iresine (Alternanthera 'Party Time'): a striking contrast between red and green.
Green and yellow Iresine: bright and original, ideal for adding lightness to your arrangements.

Leaf colour can vary depending on light and temperature: the more light the plant receives, the more intense its colours become. Discover more plants with remarkable foliage in our botanical curiosities collection.

How to grow Iresines

When and where to plant Iresine

Plant preferably in spring or summer, when temperatures are warm and frost risk has passed. Iresine thrives in moderate to bright light, sheltered from direct midday sun. Outdoors (balcony, terrace), bring pots indoors before the first autumn frosts.

What soil does Iresine need?

Iresine prefers moist, well-drained and slightly acidic soil (pH between 5.5 and 6.5). Use a substrate rich in organic matter — a mix of potting compost, garden soil and sand works well. In pots, place a layer of clay pebbles at the bottom to ensure good drainage.

How to water Iresine

Maintain regular moisture: water as soon as the surface of the soil begins to dry out, without ever leaving water sitting in the saucer. Use room-temperature water to avoid thermal shock. In winter, reduce watering significantly.

What fertiliser for Iresine?

To maintain vibrant, healthy foliage, apply a liquid fertiliser for tropical plants, rich in nitrogen, every two weeks from March to September. Dilute to half the recommended dose and stop all feeding during winter dormancy.

How to prune Iresine

Pinching

Regularly pinch back stems in spring and summer to encourage branching and a denser, bushier plant. This simple operation can be done with your fingernails or clean pruning shears.

Winter pruning

At the start of winter, cut back approximately one third of the plant's height to encourage dormancy. Iresine tolerates this hard pruning well — significantly reduce watering afterwards until spring.

How to propagate Iresine by cuttings

Stem cuttings are the ideal method for multiplying your Iresines. Here are the steps:

Cut a healthy stem of around 15 cm from the parent plant.
Remove the lower leaves, keeping a few at the top.
Place the cutting in a moist growing medium and cover with a plastic bag to retain humidity.
Position in a warm, bright spot, away from direct sunlight.
Roots typically appear after 2 to 3 weeks. The cutting can then be transplanted into its permanent pot.

For more advice on plant propagation, visit our page on taking cuttings.

What diseases affect Iresines?

Iresine is a generally resilient plant. Indoors, watch for powdery mildew, aphids or spider mites, which can develop in overly dry or poorly ventilated conditions. A prompt treatment with a suitable product is usually sufficient to resolve the issue.

Frequently asked questions about Iresines

Is Iresine an indoor or outdoor plant?

Iresine is primarily a tropical indoor plant that thrives in warmth and humidity. It can however be placed outdoors (balcony, terrace) during the warmer months, as long as it is brought back inside before the first frosts.

Why is my Iresine losing its colour?

Loss of colour most often indicates insufficient light. Move your plant closer to a light source — a well-exposed window or supplementary grow light. A lack of nitrogen-rich fertiliser can also be a contributing factor.

Is Iresine toxic to animals?

Iresine is considered a plant of low toxicity. As a precaution, however, keep it out of reach of pets and young children.

Can Iresine be grown in the ground outdoors?

Yes, in mild climate regions (with no winter frost), Iresine can be planted directly in the ground. In colder regions, container growing is preferable so the plant can easily be brought indoors in autumn.

Looking to create original plant combinations? Discover our cupheas and our begonias for colourful and eye-catching arrangements.

Iresines, "Bloodleaf" or "Chicken Gizzard"