Copperleaf

Sun

Full sun to partial shade. Strong light generally produces the best leaf colour, but afternoon shade helps in very hot, dry locations.

Water

Keep the root zone evenly moist but not waterlogged. Water containers when the surface begins to dry; reduce watering during cool indoor overwintering.

Soil

Fertile, moisture-retentive soil with good drainage. Use a well-drained potting mix in containers.

Height

6-10 ft (1.8-3 m)

Spread

4-8 ft (1.2-2.4 m)

Foliage

Evergreen. Broad, toothed, oval to heart-shaped leaves, often mottled or edged with copper, red, bronze, pink, cream or green. Colour and leaf shape vary considerably between cultivars.

Growth

Fast in warm weather; much slower in cool conditions.

Care needed

Medium

• Heat tolerant

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Needs looking after

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   2.9 ft (0.88 m)

3. After 2 years

   4 ft (1.3 m)

4. After 3 years

   5 ft (1.6 m)

5. After 5 years

   8 ft (2.4 m)

   full size

About 5 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Mildly toxic: may upset a stomach

Growth rate

Moderate

• Plant outside only after frost risk has passed and nights are consistently warm.
• Water deeply when the upper soil begins to dry; do not leave pots standing in water.
• Feed container plants with a balanced liquid fertiliser at the label rate during active growth.
• Mulch outdoor plants to conserve moisture, keeping mulch clear of the stems.
• In cold climates, move containers into a bright, frost-free room before autumn nights become cold.

Pruning. Pinch young shoots during spring and summer to encourage branching. Shorten leggy stems in spring as active growth resumes, cutting just above a leaf joint; wear gloves to avoid contact with the sap.

Spring

Prune overwintered plants, refresh container compost and resume feeding when new growth appears.

Late spring

Harden off indoor plants gradually and plant outside once frost risk has passed and nights are warm.

Summer

Check soil moisture frequently, especially in pots, and pinch shoot tips for bushier growth.

Summer

Take stem cuttings and root them in warm, humid conditions.

Early autumn

In frost-prone areas, bring pots indoors or take cuttings to keep through winter.

Winter

Keep protected plants in bright light, water sparingly without letting roots dry out completely, and inspect for pests.

• Use as a colourful informal hedge or screen in frost-free gardens.
• Place behind lower green foliage plants to make the copper and red leaves stand out.
• Grow in a large patio container as a seasonal focal point.
• Combine with cannas and elephant ears for a layered tropical border.

Garden styles it suits: Tropical, Modern tropical, Luxury resort, Caribbean, Florida subtropical and Hot border.

Plant it with: Cannas, Elephant ears, Coleus, Crotons, Cordylines and New Guinea impatiens.

Wildlife: Provides some shelter for small garden animals, but its inconspicuous flowers are not a major ornamental nectar resource.

• Spider mites cause fine speckling and webbing, especially indoors in dry air; rinse leaf undersides and use insecticidal soap labelled for the plant if needed.
• Mealybugs and scale collect on stems and leaf joints; isolate affected pots, remove small infestations by hand and treat persistent infestations with a suitable labelled product.
• Waterlogged soil causes yellowing and root rot; improve drainage and empty saucers after watering.
• Cold conditions cause leaf drop and shoot damage; move containers under cover before cold weather and delay outdoor planting until conditions are warm.

Leaves and sap are reported to cause stomach upset if swallowed, and sap can irritate skin. Keep it away from children and pets that chew plants, and wear gloves when pruning. Species-specific evidence for poisoning in cats, dogs and horses is limited, so do not treat it as safe to eat or use it where livestock can browse.

• Croton (Codiaeum variegatum)

  Crotons usually have thicker, leathery leaves with smooth edges and conspicuous coloured veins; copperleaf has thinner leaves with clearly toothed edges.

• Coleus (Coleus scutellarioides)

  Coleus has opposite pairs of leaves and square young stems; copperleaf has alternate leaves and develops woody branches.

• Chenille plant (Acalypha hispida)

  Chenille plant usually has plain green leaves and long, fuzzy red flower tassels; copperleaf is grown for coloured foliage and has much less conspicuous flowers.

Copperleaf refers to the coppery tones of its foliage, while wilkesiana honours the American naval officer and explorer Charles Wilkes.

Propagation. Take softwood or semi-ripe stem cuttings during warm weather. Remove the lower leaves and root in a moist, free-draining medium with warmth, high humidity and bright indirect light.

Accepted botanical name

Acalypha wilkesiana

In the US and Canada

Introduced in the lower 48 states, Pacific Basin and Puerto Rico.

Native range

Bismarck Archipelago, Fiji, Solomon Is., Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.