Acalypha wilkesiana |
| PlantFile Report |
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Plant Profile |
|
| Plant |
| ID |
|
105 |
 |
| Botanic Name |
|
Acalypha wilkesiana |
| Common Name |
|
Fijian Fire Plant, Fire Dragon Plant, Copper Leaf |
| Family Name |
|
Euphorbiaceae |
| Cultivars |
|
'Ceylon', 'Dwarf', 'Firestorm', 'Godseffiana Heterophylla', 'Hoffmanii', 'Inferno', 'Java White', 'Laciniata', 'Lemon Lime', 'Louisiana Red', 'Macafeana', 'Macrophylla', 'Marginata','Mardi Gras', 'Moorea', 'Obovata' |
| Origin |
|
Fiji, adjacent Islands, Zone 9-11 |
| Growth Type |
|
Shrub |
| Bark Type |
|
Woody |
| Foliage Type |
|
Evergreen |
Water Use |
|
High |
| No. of Species |
|
430 |
| Growth Habit |
|
Bun-shape |
Growth Rate |
|
Fast |
| Height |
|
1.5 - 2.5 m (5 - 8 ft) |
Spread |
|
2.5 m (8 ft) |
| Plant Overview |
|
This shrub has erect greenish branched stems that form a compact rounded habit. It has coppery pointed oval leaves with coloured margins and the red to white catkin-like flowers appear during summer. |
|
| Leaf |
| Type |
|
Simple |
|
Additional Information |
| Shape |
|
Ovate |
|
The leaves are narrow to broad ovate and are up to 190 mm (7¾ in) long by 100 mm (4 in) wide. The upper surface is coppery, red to crimson colour with pinkish margins. The apex is acuminate and the petiole is short.? |
| Arrangement |
|
Alternate |
| Margin |
|
Serrate |
| Colour |
|
Green |
| Size |
|
150 - 190 mm ( 5.9 - 7.5 in ) |
|
| Flower |
| Perfume |
|
Odorless |
|
Additional Information |
| Shape |
|
Staminate / Pistillate |
|
The tiny male flowers have no perianth segments and are arranged in a terminal catkin-like raceme that is up to 200 mm (8 in) long, and are not obvious. The female flowers are arranged in pendant spike that is white to red. |
| Inflorescence |
|
Raceme |
| Colour |
|
Red - orange |
| Size |
|
3 - 5 mm ( 0.1 - 0.2 in ) |
|
Flowering in (Southern Hemisphere)
|
|
| Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
| Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|
|
| Fruit |
| Type |
|
Capsule |
|
Additional Information |
| Colour |
|
Brown |
|
The small capsule is not normally produce and the plant is commonly reproduced vegetatively to maintain true to type. |
| Edible |
|
No |
| Bird Attractive |
|
No |
| Size |
|
0 - 0 mm ( 0.0 - 0.0 in ) |
|
Fruiting in (Southern Hemisphere)
|
|
| Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
| Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|
|
| Environment & Cultivation |
| Natural Soil |
|
Well drained, organic rich light soils with reliable moisture, pH 5.5-7.5 |
| Container |
|
Pots, tubs, planter boxes, under glass in frost prone climates |
| Climate |
|
Warm to sub-tropical |
| Aspect |
|
Semi shade to full sun, protection from wind, frost and drought |
| Pest & Diseases |
|
Snails, leaf burn, mealybugs, whitefly, oedema, downy mildew, leaf spot |
| Fertiliser |
|
Add organic matter to the soil during spring, if container grown, apply liquid fertiliser monthly |
| Pruning |
|
Light prune to shape, reduce to one third during spring |
| Cultural Uses |
|
Propagation |
|
The Fijian Fire Plant is grown for its attractive foliage and rounded bushy habit. It is planted in mixed shrub borders for foliage contrast or grown as a specimen against a wall. It is also used as a low screen and planted around a water feature.
|
|
Take soft tip or semi-hardwood cuttings during summer and apply bottom heat. Place in a warm humid environment until roots appear then pot up. Plants should be hardened off before planning out. |
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