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 ntroduced |
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Common name: Copperleaf, Joseph's coat, fire-dragon
Botanical name: Acalypha wilkesiana Family: Euphorbiaceae (castor family)
Copperleaf is a remarkable plant has foliage that is more colorful than
many flowers. It grows as a spreading evergreen
shrub with upright branches that tend to originate near the base. It can get
up to 10 ft tall with a similar spread. The alternate leaves are
elliptic to oval, serrate, 5-8 in long and multi-colored. The
flowers are small and inconspicuous, hanging in 4-8 in
long green racemes often hidden in the foliage. Many cultivars are available
with different leaf forms and colors. Acalypha wilkesiana 'Marginata' has
coppery-green leaves with pink or crimson margins. 'Macrophylla' has larger
leaves, variegated with bronze, cream, yellow and red. The leaves of 'Musaica'
are mottled with orange and red. 'Godseffiana' has narrow, drooping leaves
with cream colored margins.
Identification credit: R.K. Nimai Singh
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