Wilkes' acalypha
Acalypha wilkesiana · Euphorbiaceae
📷 Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant wilkes' acalypha: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Foliage
- Evergreen, glossy and colorful
- Flowering
- Discreet, red flowers in spikes (year-round in warm climates)
- Adult size
- 1.5 to 2.5 m in height
- Growth
- Fast
- Hardiness
- Very tender (min. 13°C)
- Origin
- Fiji Islands (Oceania)
- Soil type
- Rich, well-draining, slightly acidic
Care
Watering
Water regularly to keep the substrate moist (without excess). In winter, reduce watering and let it dry slightly between waterings. Use soft or rainwater if possible—your plant doesn't like limey water.
Light exposure
Place it in bright light, ideally east or west-facing. It tolerates partial shade, but its foliage colors will be less vibrant. Avoid direct Mediterranean summer sun, which can scorch the leaves.
Pruning and shaping
Prune regularly to thicken the growth habit and encourage branching. Pinch back young shoots in spring. Remove damaged or dried leaves to improve air circulation and maintain a beautiful silhouette.
Soil and repotting
Use rich potting soil with well-decomposed compost. Ensure excellent drainage by adding perlite or sand. Repot every 2 years in spring to refresh the substrate.
Fertilizing
Enrich the soil with balanced fertilizer (NPK) during the growing season (spring-summer), every 15 to 20 days. Stop in autumn and winter. Prefer fertilizer slightly higher in potassium to enhance your foliage color.
Pests and diseases
Watch for spider mites and scale insects in dry conditions. Regular misting of the foliage helps prevent attacks. Ensure good ventilation to avoid fungal diseases. Quickly isolate any infested plant.
Did you know?
Acalypha wilkesiana, native to Fiji, fascinates collectors with its polymorphic leaves: the same plant can produce bright red, orange, pink, or bronze foliage depending on the clone, light, and growing conditions. It's also called 'copper leaf' because of its metallic texture. In Melanesia, it once held decorative value reserved for chiefs and special occasions.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Wood spurgeEuphorbia amygdaloides
- Caper spurgeEuphorbia lathyris
- Albanian spurgeEuphorbia characias
- Spiny spurgeEuphorbia spinosa
- Garden crotonCodiaeum variegatum
- Griffith's spurgeEuphorbia griffithii
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.