Alternanthera plant named ‘Cognac’

#Botanical designation: Alternanthera ficoidea.

#Cultivar denomination: ‘Cognac’.

#The present application is co-pending with the following related applications: Alternanthera Plant Named ‘Creme de Menthe’. Alternanthera Plant Named ‘Grenadine’.

#The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the unique appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Alternanthera. The photograph is a top perspective view of a typical plants of ‘Cognac’ grown in the landscape.

#In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants used in the aforementioned photograph and in the following description were grown in Atlanta, Ga. during the summer in an outdoor nursery and under conditions which closely approximate commercial production conditions. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 80 to 905° F. and night temperatures ranged from 60 to 75° F. Plants were about four months old when the photograph and description were taken. Botanical classification: Alternanthera ficoidea cultivar Cognac. Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of the Alternanthera ficoidea cultivar Partytime, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,789. Propagation: Type cutting.—By vegetative cuttings. Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 5 days at 80 to 90° F. Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 10 days at 65 to 80° F. Time to produce a rooted cutting or liner, summer.—About 21 days at 80 to 90° F. Time to produce a rooted cutting or liner, winter.—About 30 to 35 days at 65 to 80° F. Root description.—Fine, fibrous; off-white in color. Rooting habit.—Freely branching. Plant description: Form/growth habit.—Upright and columnar plant habit; vigorous. Plant height, soil level to top of plant plane.—About 32 cm. Plant diameter or area of spread.—About 25 cm. Branching habit.—Freely basal branching, about six basal branches per plant; pinching enhances lateral branch formation; dense and bushy growth habit. Basal branches.—Length: About 28 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Internode length: About 6.3 cm. Texture: Fine pubescence; longitudinally ridged. Strength: Strong, but flexible. Color: 187A. Foliage description.—Arrangement: Opposite, simple. Length: About 8.75 cm. Width: About 5 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute to acuminate. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent; rugose. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing and fully expanded foliage, upper surface: More red purple than 200A. Developing and fully expanded foliage, lower surface: Closest to 187A. Venation, upper surface: Close to 187A to close to 200A. Venation, lower surface: Close to 187A. Petiole: Length: About 3.9 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color: Upper surface: 187A. Lower surface: Lighter than 187A. Flower description: Flower development has not been observed on plants of the new Alternanthera. Disease/pest resistance: Under commercial production conditions, plants of the new Alternanthera have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Alternanthera. Weather tolerance: Plants of the new Alternanthera have been shown to be tolerant to rain, wind and to temperatures ranging from 32 to more than 100° F.