Plant DetailShow Menu

Common Three-Seed Mercury Acalypha rhomboidea

Phonetic Spelling
ack-ah-LY-fah rom-BOY-dee-ah
Description

Common Three-seed Mercury is an annual native herbaceous plant in the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae) and occurs in all areas of NC. It is native to the central and eastern USA and into Canada. It can be found in various disturbed areas. The species name means "diamond-shaped" in reference to the leaves.

It prefers sun to light shade and will grow in moist to dry clay, loam or rocky soils. It has a deep tap root, grows 1-2 feet tall and rarely branches

This plant has tiny flowers with large lobed bracts in summer to fall and freely self-seeds. The sap of this plant is clear rather than milky as most spurges have,

It can be weedy and is not recommended for home gardens. Birds will eat the seeds.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.

More information on Acalypha.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#full sun tolerant#high maintenance#NC native#self-seeding#disturbed areas#native annual#annual weed#native weed#bird friendly#weed
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#full sun tolerant#high maintenance#NC native#self-seeding#disturbed areas#native annual#annual weed#native weed#bird friendly#weed
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Acalypha
    Species:
    rhomboidea
    Family:
    Euphorbiaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Eastern Canada, central and eastern U.S.A.
    Distribution:
    AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV Canada: NB
    Wildlife Value:
    Seeds are eaten by birds
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Native Plant
    Weed
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    High
  • 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)
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Description:
    3 lobes spherical capsule containing three seeds.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Insignificant
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Petals:
    Bracts
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Mid-summer through fall. A 5-9 lobed bract forms around the inflorecese in the axils of the leaves. There are both male and female flowers within the bract without petals or sepals.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Purple/Lavender
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Lanceolate to ovate simple alternate leaves with serrated margins, conspicuous pinnate venation and hairy petioles. 3.5" long and 1" wide. The leaves tend to congregate together near the top of the stems. In the fall leaves can be copper-purple hence the common name.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    The central stem is usually unbranched with lines of fine white hairs or just hairy.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Problems:
    Contact Dermatitis
    Weedy