Alternanthera reinecki (True AR)

The main character energy your tank’s been missing.

If your scape is looking a bit too safe… this is how you fix it. Alternanthera reineckii brings those deep reds, pinks, and purples that instantly make everything else pop. This is the real AR - not the common lookalikes - so yeah, a bit rarer and a lot more worth having.

Sharp contrast, bold colour, and just enough attitude to keep things interesting.

🌿 Why you want it

- Proper red tones - not that washed-out “kinda green kinda red" nonsense
- Instantly boosts contrast in planted tanks
- Works as a focal point or colour accent
- Trims well into dense, bushy groups

✂️ The trimming play

- Trim the tops and replant them to build a thicker bush.
- Leave it too long and it gets leggy - keep it tight and it looks premium.

📍 Where it fits

- Best in the midground to background
- Height can vary depending on trimming - usually 15-40cm

💡 Care

- Light: medium to high (higher = better colour)
- CO₂: strongly recommended if you want it looking its best
- Growth: moderate
- Propagation: cut and replant stems

💧 Water tolerance

Pretty adaptable, but it really shines in stable setups. Good nutrients = better colour, simple as that.

💬 TBC take

This is your “stop scrolling" plant.
When it’s dialled in, people notice.

Treat it right and it turns your tank from “nice" to “yeah… that’s a proper scape."