Acalypha amentacea ssp. wilkesiana (Copperleaf)

Acalypha amentacea Roxb. ssp. wilkesiana (Müll. Arg.) Fosberg

Copperleaf, Jacob’s coat, copper leaf

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Rosidae	Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
Order	Malpighiales	A broad group encompassing 16,000 species
Family	Euphorbiaceae	Euphorbia or spurge family
Genus	Acalypha	Copperleaves or three-seeded mercuries; means “nettle”
Species	amentacea	Means “narrow dangling flower”
ssp.	wilkesiana	Named for Admiral Charles Wilkes, a South Pacific explorer

About plant names...

Copper leaf is a fast-growing evergreen shrub, native to Fiji and other nearby islands in the South Pacific. It needs rich, moist, well-drained soil. In Florida, it has escaped cultivation in some areas, though it is not common; it is not established outside of Florida.

Identification: The unusual leaf coloration and restricted range in the United States are probably enough to distinguish copper leaf from other plants.

Plants: This shrub can reach 15' (4.6 m) in height. In photo 3, the variety is probably ‘Marginata,’ since its leaves are fringed in red.

Leaves: Leaves have distinct leaf coloration, described as a variegated bronze or coppery red to a muted red. Leaves are heart-shaped, and 4-8" (10-20 cm) long.

Flowers: Red, fuzzy catkins hang from leaf axils, and are 8-12" (20-30 cm) long.

Edibility: Poisonous Skull & Crossbones All parts of copper leaf are highly toxic when ingested, and may cause rashes.

Medical: Recent research (2010) suggests that extracts from this plant are beneficial for the treatment of diabetes, and may lead to future treatments. Other studies suggest potential value for treatment of a fairly wide range of conditons.

Online References:

Acalypha amentacea ssp. wilkesiana on Forest and Kim Starr’s Starr Environmental site (great photos)

Acalypha amentacea ssp. wilkesiana at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

Acalypha amentacea ssp. wilkesiana at the Missouri Botanical Garden

Acalypha amentacea ssp. wilkesiana on floridata.com

Acalypha amentacea ssp. wilkesiana on Wikimedia Commons (photos)

Acalypha wilkesiana

Acalypha wilkesiana Müll. Arg.

Acalypha amentacea ssp. wilkesiana description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 28 Aug 2021.

1 · 8/31/2013 · Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Richmond, Virginia
≈ 9 × 6" (22 × 15 cm)

2 · 2/26/2010 · San Diego Zoo, San Diego, California ID is uncertain

3 · 3/2/2001 · Kula Botanical Garden, Maui, Hawaii

Range: Zones 10b-11:

About this map...