Bright rusty-red Acalypha wilkesiana leaves under the light of a setting sun

Acalypha wilkesiana (Copperleaf)

Thought to originate in Pacific islands from the Bismarck Archipelago east to Fiji, this evergreen shrub has been cultivated for so long that its wild origin is uncertain. It usually reaches 8 to 12 feet tall. Cultivars offer mottled, edged or solid-colored foliage in copper, bronze, red, pink, cream and green, sometimes with curled leaves. Tiny flowers appear in slender spikes, with male and female clusters on the same plant. It has naturalized in Florida and southeastern Queensland, Australia, and has received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. Photographed in Florida and Cali, Colombia.

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Large ornamental Acalypha wilkesiana 'Kona Gold' shrub with dense foliage of broad, heart-shaped leaves mottled in shades of yellow, lime green, and dark green, growing in partial tropical shade

Colorful Acalypha wilkesiana shrub displaying bold foliage in mottled shades of red, copper, and green with long, slender hanging catkin-like inflorescences cascading between the leaves in a tropical garden setting

Beautiful dark red foliage of Acalypha in sunlight

Large Acalypha wilkesiana 'Kona Gold' shrub with variegated heart-shaped leaves in bright yellow and green hues, thriving in a lush tropical garden under tall palm trees

Colorful foliage of Acalypha wilkesiana with large heart-shaped leaves in shades of pink, coral, orange, and green, overlapping in a dense tropical arrangement

Close-up of Acalypha wilkesiana ‘Java White’ showing pale yellow and green variegated leaves with long, slender green flower spikes emerging from the foliage

Acalypha wilkesiana with red autumn colored leaves with dark patches and small red flowering spikes

Multicolored leaves of Acalypha wilkesiana showing a mix of green, yellow, cream, and pink tones with irregular variegation, growing densely in a tropical garden

Stunning Acalypha wilkesiana with dark leaves, red veins and a thick bright red border

Contrasting Acalypha wilkesiana shrubs with vibrant red and golden-yellow variegated leaves planted together in a lush tropical landscape

Neatly trimmed hedge of Acalypha wilkesiana with deep burgundy and reddish bronze foliage, set against a backdrop of palm trees and lush tropical greenery under a blue sky

A dense Acalypha wilkesiana shrub displaying mottled red bronze and green foliage

Section of Acalypha wilkesiana shrub with autumn color leaves

Rounded Acalypha wilkesiana bushes with dense red and burgundy foliage growing in full sun in a landscaped tropical garden

Curly-leaved Acalypha wilkesiana bush with thin, twisting bronze-green foliage growing in a tropical garden next to chenille plant with red catkin flowers

Acalypha wilkesiana bears red spiky clusters beside broad green leaves