DESCRIPTION: A. ficoidea is a tender, aquatic perennial and is commonly known as Alligator Weed and Parrot Leaf. This dwarf plant only grows 2 inches high. Its narrowly oval, green leaves have wavy edges and are variegated with red, orange and yellow. Its variety, versicolor, grows a foot high and wide. Its rounded to spoon-shaped leaves are tinged with yellow, red and brown.
POTTING: Plant them in gallon containers and grow in very wet soil or very shallow water. They should be brought into a greenhouse during the winter and provided with strong light.
PROPAGATION: They may be divided in the spring or tip cuttings may be taken.
VARIETIES: A. ficoidea & var. versicolor; A. rosefolia (mostly red foliage); A. bettzickiana (green foliage); A. sessilis (bronze foliage); A. variegata (variegated foliage).