Copper Leaf
Acalypha wilkesiana
A shrub known for its broad, alternate, coppery-bronze to dark purple-red leaves with distinct reticulate venation and serrate margins.
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade, approximately 6 hours of bright light daily.
- Water
- Water regularly when the top inch of soil feels dry. Moderate drought tolerance once established, but prefers consistently moist conditions. Avoid prolonged dryness or waterlogged soil.
- Growth
- Evergreen perennial shrub growing up to 3 to 10 feet tall and 3 to 6 feet wide with a moderate growth rate.
Care instructions
Provide bright indirect to full sunlight, water consistently to maintain moist soil without waterlogging, and use well-draining loamy soil enriched with organic matter.
Growing details
Sunlight
Full sun to partial shade, approximately 6 hours of bright light daily.
Watering
Water regularly when the top inch of soil feels dry. Moderate drought tolerance once established, but prefers consistently moist conditions. Avoid prolonged dryness or waterlogged soil.
Soil
Well-draining, fertile loamy or sandy soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH range of 6.0 to 7.0.
Hardiness zone
USDA zones 9 through 11, requiring frost-free environments.
Growth habit
Evergreen perennial shrub growing up to 3 to 10 feet tall and 3 to 6 feet wide with a moderate growth rate.
Bloom season
Inconspicuous green or red flowers arranged in catkin-like spikes, appearing intermittently throughout the year.
Propagation
Propagated easily through stem cuttings taken in spring or summer, rooted in a moist propagation medium.
Common pests & issues
Susceptible to mealybugs, scale insects, and spider mites. Overwatering can lead to root rot, while low humidity may cause leaf drop.
Similar species
Acalypha hispida (Chenille plant), distinguished by its long, fuzzy red catkins rather than prominent ornamental foliage.