Acalypha

( ACK - ah - ly - fah )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of flowering plants includes species commonly referred to as Copperleaf, Chenille Plant or Three-Seeded Mercury. These herbaceous plants are native to the tropics and subtropics in Africa and the Americas, and vary widely in shape, size, and color. Plants can be annual or perennial shrubs or small trees. Use Copperleaf in containers or hanging baskets, as ornamentals for their pendulous flowers, or as crops in vegetable gardens. Take care when planting in the landscape, as plant parts of some species can be toxic to humans and pets, and sap can cause contact dermatitis and eye irritation.

acalypha Species and Varietals

The genus Acalypha is a member of the plant family Euphorbiaceae, and includes around 460 species. The best growing zones for Acalypha vary depending on the species. See the descriptions below for more information. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Acalypha bipartita
This species is native to Africa, where it is eaten as a vegetable in some regions, used in basket-making, and fed to animals as fodder. In its native range, this plant grows amongst forest undergrowth, on forest edges, and in wooded grasslands. This species reaches up to 10 feet tall when fully grown, and produces green foliage and red to magenta-colored flowers.

Acalypha californica (California Copperleaf, Pringle Three-Sided Mercury)
This species is an important member of the native Chapparal landscapes in southern California, and is the only Acalypha species native to the state. These plants grow well in USDA hardiness zones 8a-10b and are hardy down to 30 degrees Fahrenheit. They reach up to 3 feet tall and have a spread of 5 feet wide at maturity.

Acalypha eremorum (Soft Acalypha, Turkey Bush, Native Acalypha)
This species is native to Australia, and has recently gained in popularity for its ornamental value in gardens. It is naturally an understorey plant in dry forests. These plants will shed their leaves in response to prolonged drought. Grows well in USDA hardiness zones 9a-11b.

Acalypha hispida (Acalypha sanderi, Acalypha sanderiana, Acalypha densiflora) (Chenille Plant, Philippines Medusa, Red Hot Cat's Tail, Monkey Tail, Bristly Copperleaf)
This species of Acalypha is native to tropical Asia (New Guinea and Malaysia), and is popularly cultivated as a houseplant. Chenille Plant can reach between 5 and 12 feet tall and 3 to 6 feet wide at maturity. They do well in growing zones 10 and 11, but can be grown as an annual in all zones. Cultivars include 'Alba' with white catkins, and 'White Margined' with white margins on green leaves and white flowers.

Acalypha ornata
This species is sometimes grown as an ornamental addition to home gardens, and the leaves can also be eaten as a vegetable. These plants are native to tropical Africa (Nigeria, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Namibia, Angola, Mozambique, Malawi, Botswana, and Swaziland) and grow best in USDA zones 10 and above.

Acalypha pendula (Firetail Chenille Plant, Dwarf Chenille, Strawberry Firetails)
This species is a subshrub that is native to Haiti, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic. It reaches just 3 to 7 inches tall when fully grown, and is a perfect candidate for container cultivation.

Acalypha poiretii (Firetail Chenille, Poiret's Copperleaf, Chenille Plant)
This species of Chenille is commonly cultivated as a houseplant or in a hanging basket. It is native to Mexico, Central America, and South America and grows well in USDA hardiness zones 9-11 or as an annual. These plants reach up to 18 inches tall at maturity, and produce green foliage and flowers.

Acalypha wilkesiana (Acalypha tricolor) (Copperleaf, Jacob's Coat, Flamengueira, Beefsteak Plant)
These evergreen plants reach 10 feet tall and 6-7 feet across at maturity, and have copper-green foliage with red splotches and splashes. Plant in a protected spot in the garden; Copperleaf can be damaged by both excessive heat and frost. Best when grown in USDA hardiness zones 10-11 or Sunset zones 17-26, H1, and H2; hardy to 10 degrees Fahrenheit.

Caring for acalypha

Take care when planting in the landscape, as plant parts of some species can be toxic to humans and pets, and sap can cause contact dermatitis and eye irritation.

Acalypha, or Chenille Plant, can be purchased from a reputable nursery or grown from seed (either started indoors or direct-sown into the garden). Plant these multi-use beauties in a spot in the garden that receives full sun to partial shade; ideally, they appreciate between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day for the best blooms and most vibrant foliage. When these plants are grown in less light, they will not flower as profusely. Ensure that soil is well-draining, rich in nutrients, and has a pH of between 6.0 and 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral). They can be grown in a wide range of soil types, including clay and loam, but will not tolerate xeriscapes or coastal conditions. If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. At maturity, these plants are only very moderately drought-tolerant, and really do perform best with regular waterings. As a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top two inches of soil feels dry to the touch.

In warm regions where Acalypha is grown as a perennial, they can be fertilized yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. Prune to remove dead, damaged, or diseased foliage at any time during the active growing season in spring and summer. These are vigorously growing plants, and can become a bit straggly in summertime. In fall, cut the plant back to just a foot above the ground. The following spring, the plant will rebound with strong new growth. To create a more upright plant, Acalypha can be trained. Once a week as the plant grows, trim all foliage growing on the lower two inches of the plant and support the main stem with a stake. Over time, the stem will become tough and woody. Continue taking off lower foliage throughout the entire growing season to keep this form. At the end of the growing season in temperate or cooler zones, Chenille Plants can be pulled, composted and replanted the following spring.

Growing Acalypha in Containers
Acalypha, or Chenille Plants, can be grown in the ground as well as in containers. Container cultivation of these plants allows for them to be brought inside to overwinter in cooler zones. Choose a container that has adequate drainage holes and that is two inches larger in diameter than the nursery pot. Use well-draining potting soil to fill in the bottom, and then place the plant in the container and fill in more soil around the outside of the root ball, being careful to not pack it down too much. Apply a layer of mulch on top of the soil surface to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system. At maturity, Acalypha plants grown in containers will need more frequent irrigation than those grown in the ground. As a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top two inches of soil feels dry to the touch. Every few years in springtime, check to see if the plant is outgrowing its pot. Choose a new pot that is about two inches larger with sufficient drainage holes, and repot. Bring the container indoors or into a greenhouse during the cooler months of the year, and place it back into the garden again when temperatures remain above 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Growing Acalypha Indoors
Acalypha plants are commonly grown indoors as houseplants or in greenhouses, which provides them with growing conditions that are closer to their native tropical landscapes. Choose a container that has adequate drainage holes, and place it in a south-facing window where it can receive ample light during the day. Supplement light with a grow lamp if necessary indoors in situations where light is difficult to come by. Apply a layer of mulch on top of the soil surface to maintain consistent soil temperatures and increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system. At maturity, Acalypha plants grown indoors will need more frequent irrigation than those grown in the ground, but less than those grown in outdoor containers. As a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top two inches of soil feels dry to the touch. Every few years in springtime, check to see if the plant is outgrowing its pot. Choose a new pot that is about two inches larger with sufficient drainage holes, and repot.

Propagation

Acalypha, or Chenille, plants are best propagated via cuttings taken from existing plants in the landscape. Although they can be grown from seed, these plants are dioecious, meaning that both a male and female plant need to be present in order to produce viable seeds that will germinate. The most effective and widely used method of propagation is by cuttings. To propagate a Chenille Plant, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Acalypha by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
In early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 3-4 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new plant.

Propagating Acalypha by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
Harvest your seeds. The seed heads on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
Get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 2-6 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.