Strobilanthes alternata 'Exotica': Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Plant Profile: Strobilanthes alternata 'Exotica'
Names
Purple Waffle Plant, Waffle Plant
Phonetic Spelling:stroh-bil-AN-theez al-ter-NAY-tuh
Genus:Strobilanthes
Species:alternata
Family:Acanthaceae
This delicate, herbaceous tropical perennial is frequently cultivated as an annual or in pots. The 'Exotica' variety is distinguished by its glossy purple foliage, which has a unique puckered "waffle" texture, giving rise to its popular name. It is also resilient to drought and can thrive in arid soil conditions.
Strobilanthes alternata 'Exotica' Feature Summary
Strobilanthes alternata 'Exotica' Image Gallery
Tags
#showy flowers
#annual
#drought tolerant
#white flowers
#purple leaves
#showy leaves
#hanging baskets
#tropical perennial
#spreading
#tender perennial
#herbaceous perennial
#groundcover
#dry soils tolerant
#partial shade tolerant
#non-toxic for horses
#non-toxic for dogs
#non-toxic for cats
#container plants
Similar Plants
Strobilanthes alternata 'Exotica' Feature Summary
Attributes
Perennial
Annual
Stem Cutting
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Good Drainage
Moist
12 inches-3 feet
10a
10b
11a
11b
High Organic Matter
Flowers
Leaves
Green
Red/Burgundy
Purple/Lavender
Simple
Ovate
3-6 inches
Glossy
Stem
Landscape
Mass Planting
Drought
Dry Soil
Container
Hanging Baskets
Strobilanthes alternata 'Exotica' Image Gallery
Strobilanthes alternata 'Exotica' Attributes
Strobilanthes alternata 'Exotica': Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Strobilanthes alternata 'Exotica' Whole Plant Traits
Strobilanthes alternata 'Exotica': Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Strobilanthes alternata 'Exotica': Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Strobilanthes alternata 'Exotica': Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Strobilanthes alternata 'Exotica' Cultural Conditions
Strobilanthes alternata 'Exotica': Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Strobilanthes alternata 'Exotica': Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Strobilanthes alternata 'Exotica': Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Strobilanthes alternata 'Exotica': USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
10a
10b
11a
11b
Strobilanthes alternata 'Exotica': Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Strobilanthes alternata 'Exotica' Flowers
Strobilanthes alternata 'Exotica': Flower Color
White
Strobilanthes alternata 'Exotica': Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Strobilanthes alternata 'Exotica': Flower Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Strobilanthes alternata 'Exotica': Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Strobilanthes alternata 'Exotica' Leaves
Strobilanthes alternata 'Exotica': Leaf Color
Green
Purple/Lavender
Red/Burgundy
Strobilanthes alternata 'Exotica': Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Strobilanthes alternata 'Exotica': Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Strobilanthes alternata 'Exotica': Hairs Present
No
Yes
Strobilanthes alternata 'Exotica': Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Strobilanthes alternata 'Exotica': Leaf Feel
Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy
Strobilanthes alternata 'Exotica': Leaf Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy
Strobilanthes alternata 'Exotica' Stem
Strobilanthes alternata 'Exotica': Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Strobilanthes alternata 'Exotica' Landscape
Strobilanthes alternata 'Exotica': Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Strobilanthes alternata 'Exotica': Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Strobilanthes alternata 'Exotica': Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
