Victoria County Master Gardener Association

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2018 Nov 9

LEAVES OF A DIFFERENT

COLOR

Landscape hues don't always come from flowers

November 09, 2018

By Charlie Neumeyer - Victoria County Master Gardener

Edited by Charla Borchers Leon

PHOTO BY CHARLA BORCHERS LEON/VICTORIA COUNTY MASTER GARDENER

While many Copper Plants have interspersed leaves with copper tone, there are cultivars also in red, purple, maroon, pink, cream, green and/or yellow-ish foliage. Those with striking color can be strategically planted in a container or determinate location for emphasis like shown here. This Copper King cultivar is planted with Ruby Mound Joseph's Coat in a parking lot container at a local bank in Victoria.

PHOTO BY CHARLIE NEUMEYER/VICTORIA COUNTY MASTER GARDENER

Similar to that of the chenille plant, a relative of the copper plant, the flower is a red, fuzzy catkin bloom. Resemblance to a kitten’s tail, thus its name “catkin,” it is a slim, cylindrical flower cluster like a spike with no petals. Sometimes almost invisible in comparison to the plant leaves, the mini-flower clusters are arranged closely along a central stem, which is often drooping, like shown here.

PHOTO BY CHARLIE NEUMEYER/VICTORIA COUNTY MASTER GARDENER

Copper plants, also known as Copperleaf Plants, are shrubs grown and used in landscapes or containers for their brightly colored leaves, which generally have a mottled combination of colors and are not just one solid color. They can be used outdoors in groupings, as accent plants lining a drive or walkway, at the corner of a structure or as a focal plant like shown here. This Copper Plant has grown to about 3 feet tall in the landscape of Doris Zumwalt in Hallettsville. It is used as a focal point in her yard.

Years ago, when we lived in San Antonio, we bought our first house. The previous owner had been a member of the local garden club, so the lawn and beds were well-established. I had no real experience with landscaping, or plants in general, so for the first few years, I just maintained what was there – cast iron plant, boxwood hedges (never again) and ligustrum.

But after a while, the predominantly green landscape became boring, and I began to look for ways other than flowers to brighten up the front area of the house. And I discovered copper plants.

Colors of Acalypha wilkesiana

Copper plants (Acalypha wilkesiana) or copperleaf plants are subtropical shrubs that are grown for their brightly colored leaves.

While copper may be a dominant color, according to the aggie-horticulture site, many new cultivars may have red, copper, purple, maroon, pink, white, green or yellowish foliage. Generally, the leaves have a combination of colors and appear to be mottled, not just one solid color.

Growing copper plants

Copper plants are not difficult to grow.

Do well in sun and shade; hardy to 30 degrees

They like full sun, but can do with some shade. Copper plants are hardy to 30 degrees and can grow 4 to 6 feet tall. According to the University of Florida IFAS Extension, the plant can reach up to 15 feet in height, but only in the zones 10b through 11 at the southern tip of Florida. Mine are generally in the 3- to 4-foot size.

According to the aggie-horticulture site, copper plants should not be planted outside in the spring until all danger of frost is over. I have never tried to protect them in cold weather and treat them as an annual rather than a perennial.

Perform best with regular watering

The plant has only moderate drought-tolerance and will perform better with regular watering, preferring rich, well-drained soil.

May require light pruning; need repeat fertilizing in growing season

Considered to be fast-growing, it may need some light pruning to maintain its shape and control the size. Copper plants should be fertilized two to three times during the growing season.

Have fuzzy, red catkin bloom

Although the copper plants do bloom, the plants are grown for their foliage. The red bloom is fuzzy and catkin-like, resembling the flowers on a chenille plant (acaphyla pendula) to which it is related.

Pests

Copper plants are susceptible to a few pests. According to the Gardening Channel, snails and slugs love to chew on the leaves so watch for slime trails around your plants.

Whiteflies, aphids, mites and scales, including mealy bugs, can also cause problems on these plants. But these pests are not unusual and local gardeners deal with them on multiple species of plants.

Victoria County Master Gardener Charlie Neumeyer

Uses in the landscape

Because of the brilliant coloring, too many copper plants massed together may be too much of a good thing.

Use as focal/stand-out plant

They tend to stand out in the landscape, so the South Florida Plant Guide suggests they be used as an accent plant, a single specimen or an anchor plant. The University of Florida IFAS Extension recommends spacing the plant 3 to 6 feet apart. I once used them to line the sidewalk up to the house, and they did make a big statement.

Draw attention to specific spot

Other options are small groupings, maybe three plants, to brighten a corner or draw the eye to a particular spot. They are especially showy against white or light backgrounds. They are easily grown in pots, and if you have a bright indoor space, they will do well as an inside pot plant.

Highlighted varieties

While the copper-colored copper plant is the most common, as noted previously there are numerous color combinations in different cultivars of the plant. The Gardening Channel recommends two new varieties.

Tricolor is a showy new variety whose foliage is yellow, green and red. Another, Marginata has beautiful deep green and copper leaves outlined in pink.

The aggie-horticulture site shows a relatively new variety called Copper Red, which features an enhanced copper color on the leaves. An upgrade of the standard copper plant, Copper Red displays more color in the spring with the same propagation techniques.

Worth the effort?

I’d say yes. The plants are generally available in the spring, but you may have to do some searching. Copper plants are sort of old fashioned and are not as popular as they once were. As long as you have a suitable site with adequate water and fertility, you will be well-rewarded for your efforts.

They certainly will add color to your landscape without much effort or fuss.

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