Plant Profile: Acalypha wilkesiana

This rapidly growing tropical evergreen shrub is indigenous to Fiji and other nearby South Pacific islands. It features heart-shaped leaves that range from 4 to 8 inches in size, showcasing a stunning array of mottled colors, including green, purple, yellow, orange, copper, crimson, pink, and white. The genus name, Acalypha, is derived from the Greek term for nettles, reflecting the leaves' resemblance to those plants. The specific epithet honors Charles Wilkes.

To thrive, this shrub requires consistently moist, well-drained soil; otherwise, it may shed its leaves. It serves as an excellent accent in containers and is often cultivated as a houseplant or in hanging baskets and patio containers, which can be moved indoors during the winter months. The plant produces separate male and female flowers on the same specimen, with the male flowers forming long, drooping spikes and the female flowers appearing as shorter spikes. To control its size and shape while encouraging a bushier growth, the stems can be pinched back.