Acalypha virginica
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Acalypha digyneia
- Phonetic Spelling
- ack-ah-LY-fah vir-JIN-ih-kuh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Virginia Copperleaf is a summer annual weed in the spurge family, but unlike many members of the Euphorbiaceae family, its stems do not exude the milky sap of many other spurges. It is found in disturbed areas, meadows, fields, woodlands and shores of rivers or lakes. The genus name is Greek and refers to the nettle-like shape of the leaves.
This native plant can be weedy, though not as aggressive as some in this genus. It will grow up to 2 feet tall and self-seeds. Birds eat the seeds aiding in further spread. Management includes hand weeding by pulling up the taproot and applying mulch. Prevention of seed production will help decrease the spread of the plant. Deer browse the leaves possibly leaving other plants alone.
It is not recommended for home gardens and is best left to its native habitat. It does have some benefits for wildlife.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Acalypha
- Species:
- virginica
- Family:
- Euphorbiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central and Eastern U.S.A.
- Distribution:
- USA: AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WV Canada: ON
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds eat the seeds and deer browse the leaves.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Herb
- Native Plant
- Weed
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- 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 Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- 3-celled seed capsule with each cell of the capsule containing a single ovoid-oblong seed. Seeds are wind dispursed.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Spike
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Bracts
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers grow from the hairy bracts in the leaf axil. Bracts are green, hairy, and palmately lobed (10-15 lobes) with hairs along their margins but no glands. Within each bract, a spike-like thyrse of staminate flowers develops. Spike is 3/4 inch long and individual flowers are less than 1/8 inch. 1-3 sessile pistillate flowers also form within the bract and are largely hidden from view. Each pistillate flower is about ΒΌ" across.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Rhomboidal
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are medium green and up to 3" long and 1" across. They are lanceolate and crenate with widely spaced blunt teeth to nearly smooth. The upper surfaces are sparsely canescent, sparsely covered with appressed hairs, or hairless. They grow closer together at the top of the stem giving it a flat-topped look. Young leaves are brown/copper.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The mostly unbranched erect stems are light to medium green, terete, and moderately covered with hairs
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Landscape:
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Problems:
- Weedy
