Acalypha wilkesiana

A very colorful, tropical shrub, grown for its attractive reddish leaves. A beautiful foliage with mixed shades of red, yellow, and green. The leaves get a greater color with increased exposure. This plant is very fast growing. This is one of the most striking foliage shrubs and is widely used by tropical gardeners. A. wilkesiana, can grow as tall as 7ft, and are found in a wide variety of colors: green and white, green and yellow, red, bronze, copper, or brown. The leaves also vary in form, some being flat and others undulating, while the flowers are inconspicuous. In a garden, they are often used as informal hedges or in massed beds, all Acalypha species require careful pruning to prevent them from becoming leggy.

Similar plants:

• Acalypha godseffiana (Copper Leaf, Beefsteak Plant, Fire dragon, Jacobs coat, Match-me-if-you-can, Three-seeded Mercury)
• Acalypha godseffiana 'Heterophylla' (Copper Leaf, Beefsteak Plant, Fire Dragon, Jacobs Coat)
• Acalypha hispaniolae, Acalypha pendula (Strawberry Firetails, Dwarf Cat Tails, Kitten's Tail, Trailing Acalypha, Firetail Chenille Plant)
• Acalypha hispida (Cat Tail, Chenille Plant, Red Hot Cattail, Foxtail, Red Hot Poker)
• Acalypha Inferno (Flame Copper leaf)