Acalypha
Common Name(s):
- Big Seed Copperleaf
- Chenille Plant
- Common Copperleaf
- Common Three Seed Mercury
- Copperleaf
- Cuban Copperleaf
- Deam's Three Seed Mercury
- Field Copperleaf
- Foxtail Copperleaf
- Hornbeam Copperleaf
- Hornbeam Three Seed Mercury
- Poiret's Copperleaf
- Rhombic Copperleaf
- Rough Pod Copperleaf
- Short Stalk Copperleaf
- Slender Three Seed Mercury
- Three-seeded Mercury
- Two Seed Copperleaf
- Virginia Copperleaf
- Virginia Three Seed Mercury
Previously known as:
- Acalyphopsis
- Calyptrosptha
- Caturus
- Corythea
- Cupameni
- Gymnalypha
- Linostachys
- Mercuriastrum
- Odonteilema
- Schizogyn
- Usteria
- Phonetic Spelling
- ack-ah-LY-fah
- Description
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This genus is the largest genus in the Euphorbiaceae (spurge) family. However, the genus does not have the latex that is usually found in spurges. There are 431 species in this genus some of which are native to the US. Its members can be annuals, perennials, houseplants, shrubs, small trees, or even ground covers. They are found all over the world but mostly in tropical and subtropical areas. The genus name comes from the Greek word for "nettle" as the leaves resemble those of nettles.
They are often grown as ornamentals for their foliage and they have very showy pendulous inflorescences. Generally, they require low to medium maintenance with similar requirements for watering.
They are best used as an accent plant as the very showy leaves make them stand out. Plant too many and they can overpower your other plantings. Those with less showy leaves can also be used as a hedge along a border or near a patio or pool. Some plants also work well in containers or having their inflorescence dangle from a hanging basket. In cooler climates, they are grown as a houseplant.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems.
VIDEO Created by Laura Barth for "Houseplants, Succulents, and Cacti", a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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A. gracilens
linear-oblong leaves, short petioles, and three locular fruits A. hispida
green, ovate-shaped leaves, dense, bushy habit, medium to large shrubs; can grow up to 6' tall A. poiretii
ovate to elliptic leaves, pubescent stems A. rhomboidea
medium to dark green, oval to lance-shaped leaves, hairless stems A. virginica
medium green lanceolate and crenate leaves, hairy stems A. wilkesiana
shiny, oval to elliptic, bronze green leaves that have red and purple mottling - A. gracilens, A. hispida, A. poiretii, A. rhomboidea, A. virginica, A. wilkesiana
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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A. gracilens
linear-oblong leaves, short petioles, and three locular fruits A. hispida
green, ovate-shaped leaves, dense, bushy habit, medium to large shrubs; can grow up to 6' tall A. poiretii
ovate to elliptic leaves, pubescent stems A. rhomboidea
medium to dark green, oval to lance-shaped leaves, hairless stems A. virginica
medium green lanceolate and crenate leaves, hairy stems A. wilkesiana
shiny, oval to elliptic, bronze green leaves that have red and purple mottling - A. gracilens, A. hispida, A. poiretii, A. rhomboidea, A. virginica, A. wilkesiana
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Acalypha
- Family:
- Euphorbiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The Cherokee use the plant to treat kidney ailments, dropsy, pox and gravel.
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Leaf Cutting
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America to tropical and subtropical regions
- Distribution:
- The plant can be found in North, Central and South America; Hawaii; Northwestern and Southern Africa; the Saudi Peninsula; Europe; China; India; Indonesia and Australia.
- Wildlife Value:
- The seeds are eaten by birds. Acalypha filiformis is a host to the Neptis Frobena butterfly.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Ground Cover
- Houseplant
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Tree
- Habit/Form:
- Cascading
- Weeping
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- 3 feet-6 feet
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Small 3-lobed capsule which splits and falls when ripe. Each lobe has one seed. These fruit are sometimes eaten by birds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Catkin
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- > 6 inches
- Flower Description:
- The flowers of this genus are quite small but the inflorescences can be as long as 18 inches. The most common inflorescence is a flaccid spike that appears in the axis of the leaves or at the end of a branch. These hang down in a very attractive way, especially when the flowers are in the shades of red through pink. There are some species with non-showy, short greenish yellow inflorescences. The plants are usually monoecious (both male and female parts on the same plant), but some are dioecious (female parts on one plant; male parts on another)
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Orange
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- Variegated
- White
- Leaf Feel:
- Prickly
- Rough
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Rhomboidal
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves of this genus come in all sizes, from just over 1inch to 8 inches long. The same is true of the shape. The leaves can be heart shaped, elliptical to lanceolate, oblong and even rhomboidal. But no matter the size or shape they are all simple and carried alternately with a rough, nettle-like surface. Some have stipules; some have crenated or serrated edges; some have palmate venation and others pennate (arranged on each side of the midvein similarly to the barbs of a feather). The one we use in the garden frequently have leaves that are mottled in combinations of green, purple, yellow, orange, pink or white, but usually the leaves are green - light, mid or dark. Most species have leaves that turn reddish brown in the autumn, hence the common name 'Copperleaf'.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The stems of this genus are straight, sparsely pubescent, branched and usually green or reddish brown.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Hanging Baskets
- Houseplants
- Patio
- Pool/Hardscape
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
