Baptist plant, Calico plant, Parrot leaf, red calico plant, Alternanthera bettzickiana

Last updated: February 8, 2026Reviewed date: February 8, 2026Reading time: 8 min read

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Article Summary

Alternanthera bettzickiana, commonly known as calico-plant, is a species of flowering plant in the amaranth family, Amaranthaceae. It is commonly used as an ornamental edging plant. The plant is native to South America; its cultivar ‘Red’ is similar in appearance to some of the Alternanthera dentata and Alternanthera brasiliana varieties. Baptist plant, Calico plant, Parrot leaf, border plant, Jacob’s coat, Joseph’s coat, red calico plant, joyed...

Key Takeaways

This article explains Calico Plant Facts in simple medical language.
This article explains Calico-plant Scientific Classification in simple medical language.
This article explains Traditional uses and benefits of Calico Plant in simple medical language.
This article explains Culinary Uses in simple medical language.

Educational health guideWritten for patient understanding and clinical awareness.

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Severe symptoms, breathing difficulty, fainting, confusion, or rapidly worsening illness.
New weakness, severe pain, high fever, or symptoms after a serious injury.
Any symptom that feels urgent, unusual, or unsafe for the patient.

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Alternanthera bettzickiana, commonly known as calico-plant, is a species of flowering plant in the amaranth family, Amaranthaceae. It is commonly used as an ornamental edging plant. The plant is native to South America; its cultivar ‘Red’ is similar in appearance to some of the Alternanthera dentata and Alternanthera brasiliana varieties. Baptist plant, Calico plant, Parrot leaf, border plant, Jacob’s coat, Joseph’s coat, red calico plant, joyed and shoofly are a few of the most popular common names of the Calico plant.

Calico Plant Facts

Name	Calico-plant
Scientific Name	Alternanthera bettzickiana
Native	South America
Common Names	Baptist plant, Calico plant, Parrot leaf, border plant, Jacob’s coat, Joseph’s coat, red calico plant, joyweed, shoofly
Name in Other Languages	Assamese: Brindabon Australia: Joyweed Chinese: Jǐn xiù xiàn (锦绣苋) Cuba: Adorno de jardín, alternante, borde de playa, San Pedro Dominican Republic: Jamón con pan verdes El Salvador: Perico English: Baptist plant, Calico plant, Parrot leaf, border plant, Jacob’s coat, Joseph’s coat, red calico plant, joyweed, shoofly French: Alternanthère de Bettzick German: Papageienblatt Honduras: Colchón de niño India: Jal-sachiba; lal mehndi, Madranga Japanese: Moyoubiyu (モヨウビユ), akaba-moyo-biyu, NMoyoubiyu Lesser Antilles: Rabbit weed, zeb a albumin Malay: Djukut selon Malayalam: Kāṭṭupeānnāṅkaṇṇi (കാട്ടുപൊന്നാങ്കണ്ണി) Nicaragua: Monte negro Puerto Rico: Jamón con huevo, pajarito, sanguinaria, sinvergüencita Spanish: Sanguinaria, jamón con huevos, pajarito, sinvergüencita Tanzania: Mehicha, mehicha mana Thai: Phak pet daeng (ผักเป็ดแดง), Phak pet farang (ผักเป็ดฝรั่ง) Venezuela: Awiri hawapo, woiituño Vietnamese: Dệu đỏ, Dệu dạng sung
Plant Growth Habit	Herbaceous perennial plant
Growing Climates	Open areas of degraded deciduous forest, wastelands and river margins
Soil	Prefers an organically rich, consistently moist, well-drained soil
Plant Size	Between 20 and 50 cm tall
Stem	Erect or creeping, much-branched, with the apical part of the stem quadrangular, and the basal part cylindrical. Some hairs are present at the nodes and the apex, as well as at the level of the short petioles
Leaf	Leaf blade is 1 to 6 mm long and 0.5 to 2 mm wide. It is green, red or green tinged with red or yellow. Its shape is oval, sometimes a little oblong or spatulate. It is not flat but slightly wavy
Flower	Terminal or axillary; there are between 2 and 5 per flower stalk. The bracts measure 1.5 to 3 mm in length and are acuminate. The corolla and calyx are white tepals , the outermost being longer (3 or 4 mm) and hairy than the internal ones. There are 5 stamens with linear anthers. The ovary is smooth, very short style
Fruit Shape & Size	Fruits are slightly more than 1 mm long, enclosed in the persistent perianth segments and bracts.
Plant Parts Used	Leaves

Calico-plant Scientific Classification

Scientific Name: Alternanthera bettzickiana

Rank	Scientific Name & (Common Name)
Kingdom	Plantae (Plants)
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta (Vascular plants)
Infrakingdom	Streptophyta (land plants)
Subdivision	Spermatophytina (spermatophytes, seed plants, phanérogames)
Superorder	Caryophyllanae
Order	Caryophyllales
Family	Amaranthaceae
Sub Family	Gomphrenoideae
Genus	Alternanthera
Species	A. bettzickiana
Synonyms	Achyranthes bettzickiana (Regel) Standl Achyranthes picta Passarge Alternanthera amabilis Lem Alternanthera amabilis var. tricolor Linden & André Alternanthera amoena (Lem.) Voss Alternanthera amoena f. amabilis (Lem.) Voss Alternanthera amoena f. reinhardii Voss Alternanthera amoena f. sessilis Voss Alternanthera amoena f. spectabilis Voss Alternanthera amoena f. typica Voss Alternanthera articulata O.Stützer Alternanthera articulata f. capitellata O.Stützer Alternanthera articulata f. capitulifera O.Stützer Alternanthera articulata var. minuta O.Stützer Alternanthera bettzickiana f. aurea Voss Alternanthera bettzickiana f. kurzii Voss Alternanthera bettzickiana var. spathulata (Lem.) Seub. Alternanthera bettzickiana f. spathulata (Lem.) Voss Alternanthera coerilis Voss Alternanthera cyclophylla (Seub.) Schinz Alternanthera ficoidea var. amoena (Lem.) L.B.Sm. & Downs Alternanthera ficoidea var. bettzickiana (Regel) Backer Alternanthera ficoidea var. spathulata (Lem.) L.B.Sm. & Downs Alternanthera ficoides var. bettzickiana (Regel) Backer Alternanthera kerberi Uline & W.L.Bray Alternanthera paronychioides Klotzsch ex K.Koch Alternanthera paronychioides var. bettzickiana (Regel) Fosberg Alternanthera purpurea Pynaert Alternanthera reinhardii Voss Alternanthera rosea Voss Alternanthera sessilis var. amoena Lem Alternanthera spathulata Lem Alternanthera tenella var. bettzickiana (Regel) Veldkamp Alternanthera variegata K.Koch Alternanthera versicolor f. aurea Voss Amarantesia brasiliensis Regel Telanthera bettzickiana Regel Telanthera picta (Passarge) C. Koch

Plant Description

The calico plant is an herbaceous perennial plant that grows between 20 and 50 cm tall. The plant is found growing in open areas of degraded deciduous forest, wastelands, and river margins. Normally the plant prefers organically rich, consistently moist, and well-drained soil. The stem is erect or creeping, much-branched, with the apical part of the stem quadrangular, and the basal part cylindrical. Few hairs are present at the nodes and the apex, as well as at the level of the short petioles

Leaves

Leaf-blades are about 4-9 cm long and 1.5-4 cm wide, petioles are up to 1-2 cm long but sometimes very short or absent. Both the upper and lower surfaces of the leaf blade are pilose and pustular. Twigs are longitudinally ribbed, densely clothed in multi-celled, minutely barbed, white hairs.

Flowers

Flowers are present in axillary sessile spikes or clusters. Perianth segments are about 3-5 mm long, clothed in pale hairs. Staminal filaments are fused towards the base, anthers about 1-2 mm long, free filaments about 1.5-2 mm long, staminodes alternating with the stamens. Staminodes are about 2.5-3 mm long, apices toothed or lobed. The ovary is about 1 mm long, enclosed in the staminal tube. Style is short, about 0.5 mm long.

Fruit and seed

Infructescence is very much like the inflorescence, i.e. consisting of tightly packed bracts interspersed with pale hairs. Individual fruits are slightly more than 1 mm long, enclosed in the persistent perianth segments and bracts. Seeds are discoid, about 1 mm diam., testa brown.

Traditional uses and benefits of Calico Plant

Alternanthera bettzickiana is used to treat anemia in children.
It is also used to treat pain, swelling, stiffness, or reduced movement. সহজ বাংলা: জয়েন্টের প্রদাহ।" data-rx-term="arthritis" data-rx-definition="Arthritis means joint inflammation causing pain, swelling, stiffness, or reduced movement. সহজ বাংলা: জয়েন্টের প্রদাহ।">arthritis, gastrointestinal distress, and emmenogogue, menstrual cramps, to promote lactation, to improve blood circulation, and prevent dementia.
It is also ground and used to treat snake bites.
The cooked vegetable is given to anemic children in order to improve their health.

Culinary Uses

The leaves and young shoots are edible, eaten in salads or as a vegetable.
Leaves and young shoots can be consumed raw or cooked.
Mild flavored, they can be eaten in salads or boiled and used as a vegetable.

Other facts

bettzickiana is used for erosion control and soil improvement due to its extensive root system.
It is used in tea plantations, croplands, and orchards to hold soil.
It is also used as fodder for goats and rabbits.
In Central America is used as an ant repellent.

References

Safety note: This is not a prescription or diagnosis. For severe symptoms, pregnancy danger signs, children with serious illness, chest pain, breathing difficulty, stroke-like weakness, or major injury, seek urgent care.

Which doctor may help?

Start with a registered doctor or the nearest qualified health center.

What to tell the doctor

Write when the problem started and how it changed.
Bring old prescriptions, investigation reports, and current medicines.
Write allergies, pregnancy status, diabetes, kidney/liver disease, and major past illnesses.
Bring one family member if the patient is weak, elderly, confused, or a child.

Questions to ask

What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
Which danger signs mean I should go to hospital quickly?
Which tests are necessary now, and which can wait?
How should I take medicines safely and what side effects should I watch for?
When should I come for follow-up?

Tests to discuss

Vital signs: temperature, pulse, blood pressure, oxygen saturation
Basic physical examination by a clinician
CBC, urine test, blood sugar, or imaging only when clinically needed

Avoid these mistakes

Do not use antibiotics, steroid tablets/injections, or strong painkillers without proper medical advice.
Do not hide pregnancy, kidney disease, ulcer, allergy, or blood thinner use.
Do not delay emergency care when danger signs are present.

Medicine safety and first-aid guide

This section is for patient education only. It does not replace a doctor, pharmacist, or emergency care.

Safe first steps

Avoid heavy lifting, sudden bending, and prolonged bed rest.
Use comfortable posture and gentle movement as tolerated.
Discuss physiotherapy, X-ray, or MRI only when clinically needed.

OTC medicine safety

For mild back pain, pain-relief medicine may be discussed with a doctor or pharmacist.
Avoid repeated painkiller use if you have kidney disease, stomach ulcer, uncontrolled blood pressure, or are taking blood thinners.

Avoid these mistakes

Do not start antibiotics without a proper medical decision.
Do not use steroid tablets or injections casually for quick relief.
Do not delay emergency care because of home remedies.

Get urgent help if

Back pain with leg weakness, numbness around private area, loss of urine/stool control, fever, cancer history, or major injury needs urgent care.

Medicine names, dose, and timing must be decided by a qualified clinician or pharmacist after checking age, pregnancy, allergy, other diseases, and current medicines.

For rural patients and family caregivers

Patient health record and symptom diary

Write your symptoms, medicines already taken, test results, and questions before visiting a doctor. This note stays on your device unless you print or copy it.

Doctor to discuss: Doctor / qualified healthcare provider

Tests to discuss with doctor

Basic vital signs: temperature, pulse, blood pressure, oxygen level if needed
Relevant blood, urine, imaging, or specialist tests only after clinical assessment

Questions to ask

What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
Which warning signs mean I should go to emergency care?
Which tests are really needed now?
Which medicines are safe for my age, pregnancy status, allergy, kidney/liver/stomach condition, and current medicines?

Emergency warning signs such as chest pain, severe breathing difficulty, sudden weakness, confusion, severe dehydration, major injury, or loss of bladder/bowel control need urgent medical care. Do not wait for online information.

Go to emergency care if you notice:

Severe or rapidly worsening symptoms
Breathing difficulty, chest pain, fainting, confusion, severe weakness, major injury, or severe dehydration

Doctor / service to discuss: Qualified healthcare provider; specialist depends on symptoms and examination.

Step 1
Check danger signs first
If danger signs are present, seek emergency care and do not wait for online information.
Step 2
Record the symptom story
Write when symptoms started, severity, medicines already taken, allergies, pregnancy status, and test results.
Step 3
Visit a qualified clinician
A doctor, nurse, or qualified healthcare provider can examine you and decide which tests or treatment are needed.
Step 4
Do only useful tests
Do tests after clinical assessment. Avoid unnecessary tests, random antibiotics, or repeated medicines without diagnosis.
Step 5
Follow up and return early if worse
If symptoms worsen, new warning signs appear, or treatment is not helping, return for review quickly.

Rural patient practical tips

Take a written symptom diary and all previous prescriptions/test reports.
Do not hide medicines already taken, even herbal or over-the-counter medicines.
Ask which warning signs mean urgent referral to hospital.

This roadmap is for education. A real diagnosis and treatment plan requires history, examination, and clinical judgment.

RX Patient Help

Ask a health question safely

Write your symptom story. A health professional or site editor can review it before any answer is prepared. This box is not for emergency care.

Emergency first: Severe chest pain, breathing trouble, unconsciousness, stroke signs, severe injury, heavy bleeding, or rapidly worsening symptoms need urgent local medical care now.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this article a replacement for a doctor?

No. It is educational content only. Patients should consult a qualified clinician for diagnosis and treatment.

When should I seek urgent care?

Seek urgent care for severe symptoms, rapidly worsening condition, breathing difficulty, severe pain, neurological changes, or any emergency warning sign.