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Acalypha wilkesiana ‘Metallica’
Acalypha wilkesiana ‘Metallica’
COMMON NAMES
Metallica Copperleaf, Jacob’s Coat
Acalypha (ak-uh-LY-fuh) – from the Greek for nettle, in reference to the nettle-like appearance of the leaves
wilkesiana (wilkes-ee-AY-nuh) – named for Charles Wilkes, 19th century naval officer and explorer
‘Metallica’ – cultivar name
OTHER NAMES / SYNONYMS
Species - Acalypha amentacea, Acalypha tricolor
GROUP
Dicot
FAMILY
Euphorbiaceae
ORIGIN
Species - Fiji Islands, South Pacific; Cultivar -
DESCRIPTION
Metallica Copperleaf is an evergreen shrub that averages 10 to 15 feet in height with a 6 to 8 foot spread. It is multi-stemmed and has an upright, sprawling habit. It has a fast growth rate.
Leaves are evergreen, ovate in shape, an average of 4 to 6 inches long, alternate in arrangement, and simple with mostly serrate margins. New leaves are a light copper with 
older leaves a burgundy to dark copper. It has pinnate veins.
The reddish copper flowers are small, borne in axillary catkins that are 6 to 8 inches long. Primary bloom period is summer.
Fruit are capsules that are not often seen.
HARDINESS
It is hardy in USDA Zones 10 to 11. It is freeze tender. It is marginally grown in zone 9 with some foliage damage each winter, sometimes killed to the ground to resprout in spring.
LIGHT
Full sun for best color and compactness; it will tolerate part shade
SALT
Poor Salt Spray Tolerance – it’s risky for this plant to be put in a coastal area as it has minimal tolerance. It would require multiple layers of protection such as in a greenhouse, indoors, or in a small enclosed area such as a courtyard beyond the dunes.
SOIL
It prefers a fertile, organic soil in the pH range of 6.0 to 7.5, but it will grow on other well-drained soils.
WATERING
It has moderate drought tolerance once established, so some water is needed for survival in dry spells. As with most plants, though, ample irrigation in droughts keeps it healthier and looking better.
PROPAGATION
Cuttings under mist most any time of year – softwood cuttings root best taken in spring and with semi-hardwood cuttings taken later in the summer as temperatures begin cooling, some bottom heat speeds rooting ; air layering
PRUNING
Pinch tips when young to promote more branching. Prune to control or shape during the year – it is best to selectively prune as opposed to shearing. Save hard cutbacks, if needed, for early spring after frost danger has passed.
FERTILIZING
It has no special fertilizer needs. Unless a soil test suggests otherwise, a balanced analysis fertilizer applied per the product label will work.
PESTS
Croton Scale - University of Florida
Lobate Lac Scale - University of Florida
Saddleback Caterpillar - University of Florida
Spider Mites - University of California
Mealybugs - University of California
Aphids - University of California
DISEASES
Rhizoctonia - Michigan State University- especially Damp Off on cuttings and young plants
Little-leaf Virus
DEER
Resistant
There are very few totally “deer-proof” plants. There are also, relatively speaking, few plants that are considered a preferred food supply of deer. Most plants fall in the big gap between. One of the biggest variables is the available preferred food supply in a given area. If their preferred food is scarce, they will munch on most anything.
USES
Containers, specimen plant, color accent, background plant
California Poison Control gives Acalypha wilkesiana a listing of:
1 - Dermal Skin - contact with these plants can cause symptoms ranging from redness, itching, and rash to painful blisters like skin burns.
3 – Moderate - Ingestion of these plants is expected to cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and other symptoms that may cause illness but is not life-threatening.