Copperleaf – Acalypha wilkesiana ‘Pink’

General Landscape Uses: Accent, privacy hedge, container Ecological Restoration Notes: Not used. Description: A dense, fast-growing evergreen shrub with large, heart-shaped (ovate) leaves. The ‘Pink’ varieties feature leaves that are often serrated or crinkled, with base colors of olive or bronze overlaid with neon pink, rose, and cream margins or splashes. Dimensions: Height 6 – 10 ft.; Spread 4 – 8 ft. Growth Rate: Fast Native Range: Fiji and the nearby islands of the South Pacific. Native Habitats: Tropical rainforests and coastal thickets. Soils: Well-drained Nutritional Requirements: Moderate to high Salt Water Tolerance: Low Salt Wind Tolerance: Moderate Drought Tolerance: Low to moderate Light Requirements: Full to part sun Flower Color: Reddish-pink or copper. Flower Characteristics: Inconspicuous, fuzzy spikes called catkins (pendulous racemes) that hang among the leaves. Flowering Season: All year Fruit: A tiny, non-showy capsule. Wildlife and Ecology: Provides dense cover for small birds. While not a primary nectar source, the catkins do attract some small insects. Horticultural Notes: Grown from cuttings, air layering Comments: Like many members of the Euphorbiaceae family, the sap can be a skin irritant for some people.