Acalypha wilkesiana

Native to Fiji and neighboring South Pacific islands, copperleaf is an evergreen, often suckering, tropical shrub or subshrub that may grow to 10-15 tall and as wide in frost free areas. It is typically grown as an annual in St. Louis where it will grow 2-4 tall in a single growing season. As the common name suggests, this shrub is grown for its attractive foliage which features shiny, coarsely-toothed, oval to elliptic, bronze-green leaves (5-8î long) that are mottled with red and purple or red and bronze. Insignificant green flowers, sometimes tinged with reddish-pink, appear in slender spi... more »

Native to Fiji and neighboring South Pacific islands, copperleaf is an evergreen, often suckering, tropical shrub or subshrub that may grow to 10-15 tall and as wide in frost free areas. It is typically grown as an annual in St. Louis where it will grow 2-4 tall in a single growing season. As the common name suggests, this shrub is grown for its attractive foliage which features shiny, coarsely-toothed, oval to elliptic, bronze-green leaves (5-8î long) that are mottled with red and purple or red and bronze. Insignificant green flowers, sometimes tinged with reddish-pink, appear in slender spikes to 8î long. Species is named after Admiral Charles Wilkes who explored the South Pacific in the 1800s. Synonymous with A. tricolor. (less)