Taking Root Seasonal gardening advice

Looking to add a splash of color to your yard?
Acalypha Wilkesiana, also known as Copperleaf, will do the trick.
You can see “Java White,” pale green and white copperleaf, planted as borders along the
entrance and exit ramps to the Palmetto Expressway.
Copperleaf is a non-
native plant that performs
extremely well in our growing zones, between Lake Okeechobee and
Homestead.
Its growth rate is moderate. Plants can grow up to 15 feet high and spread to 8 feet wide. Occasional
shaping will maintain a clean look.
This shrub will make an attractive privacy barrier and is great for
adding just a splash of
color to a green landscape.
The sunnier the location, the brighter the leaf color will become. Leaves are more intensely colored during the winter months.
If planted in shade, there will be less branching out and foliage will tend to become dark green and dull.
Colors include green,
yellow, orange, pink, purple, red and white.
Leaves vary in shape and size: some are ruffled with sawtooth edges, or they can be elongated and skinny and heart-shaped.
In the ground or in a pot, copperleaf will flourish. Regular watering is suggested but it can tolerate drought conditions if
planted in the ground.
Copperleaf can be
susceptible to aphids, mites and scale. It can be easily treated with a natural
insecticidal soap or with the chemical malathion.