About
Acalypha wilkesiana 'Obovata' is a sizable evergreen shrub typically cultivated as a houseplant. Its large, nearly round leaves reach about 15 cm across, starting as mid-green before maturing to a bronzy hue with a fine, pale pink edge. From spring to autumn, it may produce clusters of small red flowers resembling catkins, though they are not particularly prominent.
About the genus
Acalypha comprises evergreen shrubs, trees, or annuals, characterized by their simple leaves and racemes of small flowers resembling catkins, with some species displaying vibrant colors.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full shade, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- East-facing, South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H1B
Plant details
- Plant type
- Conservatory Greenhouse, Houseplants, Shrubs
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 1.5-2.5 metres
- Spread
- 1.5-2.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 10-20 years
- Suggested uses
- Houseplants
- Native to
- Polynesia
- Toxicity
- Skin and eye irritant, Harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow under glass or indoors in a peat-free potting compost in full or filtered light. When in growth water freely and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly. Water sparingly in winter, keeping barely moist. Can be grown outdoors in fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil in sun or part shade but only in warmer climes
- Pruning
- Pruning group 11
- Propagation
- Propagate by softwood cuttings in early spring or semi-hardwood cuttings in late summer. Bottom heat will be required
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to glasshouse whitefly, glasshouse red spider mite, mealybugs and scale insects
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free