Sunday 25 October 2015

Growing Red Dwarf Copperleaf Or Red Sessile Joyweed

This plant was brought to my attention when I was visiting my friends in Semenyih. The plants were growing all over her backyard and my friend shared with me all the benefits of the plants. The usefulness were reconfirmed by my sister-in-law when she dropped by to visit us at my friend's house. I was then encouraged to bring some back home to plant in my garden.
Its scientific name is Alternanthera Sessilis (Red). I want to thank the experts from the gardening groups I have joined on Facebook for helping with the identification of this plants.

Some of the common names are Red Sessile Joyweed, Red Dwarf Copperleaf, Keremak Merah (Malay) and Hung Teen Wu (Chinese).

There are green and dark red variety.

I have seen this dark red variety being soil in the wet markets.

These Red Dwarf Copperleaf plants are self-seeding plants and very easy to grow. They are invasive plants or weeds. Propagation also through stem cuttings and they root easily at the nodes.

Red Dwarf Copperleaf plants grow well where the ground is damp and moist. It can be exposed to full sun or in partial shade.

The many uses of Dwarf Copperleaf plants:-

1) The leave and young shoots can be used as veggie and can be eaten as salad or ulam (Malay)
2) As a drink by boiling the plants in water for :-
    - cooling down the body heat,
    - to nourish the kidney, liver and good for the eyes,
    - for blood cleansing.
    - to lower cholesterol level and regulate blood flow,
    - for treatment of dizziness and headache.
    - for treatment of indigestion and fever.
3) Used as a paste to apply on acne, pimples, sprains, burns and eczema.
It is also claimed that the plants have anti virus and anti bacteria properties.

Caution:
Even though there are many positive claims on the benefits of the plants and there has been no known or reported side-effects, it is better to be cautious when taking natural herbs or over dosage.

The wise are cautious and avoid danger;
fools plunge ahead with reckless confidence.
(Proverbs 14:16, New Living Translation-NLT)

58 comments:

  1. Nancy, this is quite an attractive and unique looking plant.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Phong Hong, yes and it is also a very useful plant

      Delete
  2. Gorgeous colour! Love this beautiful plant, Nancy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Angie. It has many medicinal value too.

      Delete
  3. it's amazing:) kiss

    http://denimakeup95.blogspot.it/

    ReplyDelete
  4. Don't think i seen this plant before...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sharon, so this is your first time seeing this plant. You can grow this in flower pots.

      Delete
  5. I have seen this plant in the market & was told of its benefits & medicinal value by the seller. Don't dare to try. Heard that it is easy to plant & sprouting very fast.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is selling in the wet market and I have seen people buying, plus my friends have also tried them, Oh yes, they easily sprout all over the garden, so far they are quite manageable in my garden.

      Delete
  6. Belas fotografias desta magnifica planta.
    Um abraço e bom Domingo.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Francisco and best wishes to you too!

      Delete
  7. Hello and thanks for sharing that.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I like the color of the leaves but I would think twice before introducing it to my garden however I would grow it in a pot away from the garden. Some invasive plants are difficult to irradiate once established.
    Have a nice Sunday.
    Hugs,
    JB

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Julia. Yes, its a good idea to grow them in a pot and keep it away from the garden area or else the seeds will find their way there. Have a lovely Sunday!

      Delete
  9. Hello, it is a pretty plant with lovely leaves. Happy Sunday, enjoy your new week!

    ReplyDelete
  10. so great plant and healthy one. Have a nice week . Hugs from poland

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Gosia. Hugs from Malaysia. Have a great week!

      Delete
  11. Thank you so much for visiting my blog and commenting! What a wonderful plant! Have a beautiful Sunday!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Really? It helps to relieve eczema? I have eczema on my hands and I think my whole body, actually, but it mostly appears on my hands and gets so bad sometimes that it bleeds. Love your photos, and especially the one with the dew or rain droplets!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am sorry to hear that you have eczema problem. I too have some skin allergy one in a while. I will have a try, just boil the water and drink and see if it is effective.

      Delete
  13. They are beautiful and you have an amazing green thumb.

    Have a fabulous day Nancy. ☺

    ReplyDelete
  14. This plant seems to have lots of benefits. I do believe if we eat a wide variety of plants we can prevent a lot of disease. Thanks for introducing me to this red dwarf copperleaf.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for visiting and comments. Have a lovely day!

      Delete
  15. Wow, it can cure acne? Pretty amazing...and very pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Lovely plant, Nancy and wise words! I am the cautious type...lol! Happy Monday! ^.^

    ReplyDelete
  17. Nice. I love how you can use this plant for so many things. And it is so "alive". Everything around here is becoming dormant.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Erika. Over here we don't have the four seasons so our plants here do not go dormant. Have a beautiful week!

      Delete
  18. Replies
    1. Mun, I have tried boiling the leave and drank it once. I boiled it plain, I didn't add anything else.

      Delete
  19. A pretty plant, and useful too!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hi Nancy, may I know where is the place of wet markets selling these?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You can try the smaller towns or villages. I sometimes see them in Kg. Simee, Jelapang or Bercham wet market. Once you get some stem cuttings, you can grow them yourselves. They grow easily and low maintenance.

      Delete
  21. Hi ,
    Nice to know about the dark green and copper colored dwarf leaf. Live in DC area, Any idea where I can get the seeds.

    - Ana

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Ana, I am sorry I am not staying in DC so I have no idea at all. Have a lovely day!

      Delete
  22. Nancy this plant has great medicinal properties and it works well to lower blood pressure cholesterol and improves and keep the kidneys healthy I have been taking it for 6 months now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Cyril. Then I better start to take regularly to lower my cholesterol level. Have a great day!

      Delete
  23. it is called ponnagkanni keerai in tamil, it is green though good for eyesight. it has been used for years and years in indian culture.
    Ganesh

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, dear for your information. I haven't seen or recognize any of the green ones here. I am only a beginner and there is plenty to learn about our local herbs and their usefulness.

      Delete
  24. Hi Nancy. Thanks for your post. Do you know where we can get the seeds for this plant in USA?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry, I have no idea because I am from USA.

      Delete
  25. Hello Ms/Mr

    I shertian from indonesia

    I want to ask you have you sell seeds from keremak merah (alternanthra sessilis red) 

    I need the seed of keremak merah for my research i really need the seed


    Thankyou. 

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry Shertian, I don't know why you can find the seeds you wanted. I don't have the plants with me now.

      Delete
  26. Hi Nancy, I am in Ohio. Any idea where I can buy the stem or seeds for this plants. It has many medicinal properties and I am struggling to find it for past 6 months.Please help

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I no longer have the plants. After many years, I removed all the unhealthy plants because they got infested with pest. I am sorry I am not able to help you.

      Delete
    2. Hi Ohio, you can try the vegetable in Indian shops who sell vegetables, Murugan has as far as I know, but they are green in colour. YOu can propogate them using stems




      Delete
    3. Thank you, Ram. I have heard about the many benefits of Murugan leaves. I am thinking of planting it in a pot but don't know if it will grow well.

      Delete
  27. Hi Nancy, thank you for this post. I just came across this plant and found your blog while researching. Do you know if this plant is poisonous if consumed in large amounts? Because when I mentioned this at a local TCM shop, the person said she heard that it's got poison (but she did say that she's not too sure as she doesn't know much about local herbs). Many thanks and blessings to you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I too don't know much about local herbs. I didn't get to consume the herb.

      Delete

Your visits and encouraging comments are greatly appreciated. Please leave me your name and blog link for me to visit you. Thank you.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...