Light. Full sun gives the brightest leaf color. It grows in partial shade, but the plant fills out less.
Water. Water regularly while it establishes. It is moderately drought tolerant but looks best with regular watering in dry spells, and it handles occasionally wet soil.
Soil and feeding. Grows in a wide range of garden soils, acidic or slightly alkaline, sandy or loamy.
Size. Grows fast to about 8 ft tall and 6–8 ft wide; branches droop with age. Space plants 3–5 ft apart.
Pruning. Shape it now and then for a neat look. Used as a hedge, it needs more frequent trimming to hold its size.
Problems to watch. Aphids, mites, whiteflies and scale can appear but rarely affect long-term health. Treat heavy infestations with Insecticidal Soap.
Good to know. It grows best where frost is rare. The bold color can overpower a garden, so one to three plants often make enough of an accent.
Sources: UF/IFAS EDIS FPS-6: Acalypha wilkesiana, Copperleaf
