Acalypha wilkesiana & cultivars.
Family Euphorbiaceae.
Known as Copperleaf these are the most commonly seen Acalyphas.
They are upright, evergreen shrubs to 3 m high although there are now a few dwarfs.
The alternate, ovate to elliptic leaves are usually large and can be up to 20 cm long.
The blade can be flat or twisted and the margin is toothed.
Variable plants and one shrub can have leaves with different colours and patterns.
Leaves can be a single colour such as shades of green or reddish-purple.
Others can be bi- or tri-coloured or be speckled, streaked or patterned.
Colours include white, cream, red, pink, bronze, yellow, burgendy and orange.
The typical Acalypha inflorescences and flowers are often partly hidden by the leaves.
The drooping male catkins can be up to 20 cm long.
The bract colours vary depending on the leaf colours.
Cultivar leaves include:
‘Java White’, ‘Copperfield Green’ and ‘Tahiti’ – green with white.
‘Kona Gold’ is similar – green with cream to yellow.
‘Tricolor’ or ‘Mucaica’, and ‘Wilkes Copperleaf’ – green with yellow, red and pink.
‘Marginata’ – coppery with pink to red edges.
J.F.
