Common Name: Copper Plant, Copperleaf

Scientific Name: Acalypha wilkesiana

Type of Plant: Shrub

Description: One of the prettiest Florida shrubs is copper plant – or “copperleaf” – with its striking, brightly-colored leaves. Each leaf is different, like a miniature masterpiece of nature.  

Mature Size: 6-10′ tall x 4-8′ wide

Blooms: These shrubs do flower but with narrow, dangling, fuzzy blooms (called “catkins”) similar in color to the foliage so the blossoms are all but invisible.

Climate Requirements: Copperleaf plants like full sun to part shade – and the more sun, the brighter the leaf color. They’re not strong, robust shrubs, so plant in an area sheltered from wind.

Care Requirements: Trim occasionally for shape and height (do branch trimming rather than using hedge trimmers). Give the plant a hard pruning in spring (late March or early April) for bushier growth and to keep it the size you want.  Fertilize 3 times a year – in spring, summer and fall – with a good granular fertilizer.

Spacing: Space plants 24-36″ apart

Water Needs: Keep a regular watering schedule for these shrubs. If they stay too dry for too long they won’t look their best and the resulting stress can invite pests.

Maintenance: Low

Special Uses/Attributes: If crotons are not your cup of tea, these colorful foliage plants are an outstanding substitute. Evergreen (though they can thin in winter) and moderately salt-tolerant, they’re fast growers you can keep 3 to 5 feet.

Florida Native: No

Common Name: Cocoplum, Red-Tip Cocoplum

Scientific Name: Chrysobalanus icaco

Type of Plant: Shrub

Description: Cocoplum, a South Florida native, is an outstanding texture plant with a “beachy” look, producing an edible plum which many critters (including people) enjoy.  Rounded, shiny green leaves are set off by red-tipped new growth.

Mature Size: 8-10′ tall x 8-10′ wide

Blooms: The plant produces small white flowers, followed by fruit that’s often made into jelly…or as an attraction in a wildlife garden.

Fruit:  The plum is pink and ripens to purple with a fairly bland flavor, and the almond-flavored seeds can be roasted and eaten or crushed for use in cooking.

Climate Requirements: A full to part sun location is best, though these shrubs will grow in part shade.

Care Requirements: Trim as needed, with a hard pruning in spring if you need to control the plant’s size. You can shear this shrub with hedge trimmers for a more manicured appearance or branch trim for a natural look. Fertilize 3 times a year – in spring, summer, and autumn – with a good granular fertilizer.

Spacing: Space plants 36-48″ apart

Water Needs: Water on a regular basis with time to let the plant dry out a bit between waterings. Once this shrub is well-established, it will tolerate a moderate amount of drought and watering only during dry spells, though it does better with regular irrigation.

Maintenance: Low

Special Uses/Attributes:  Terrific as hedge shrubs or privacy plants, these native Florida plants can grow to about 15 feet if you let them – though most of the time they’re kept trimmed to around 4 feet.  This is an easy-care plant that can be kept more manicured for a formal look or left to grow in its naturally pretty rounded shape in a casual landscape style.

Florida Native: Yes