Virginia Copperleaf, Virginia Threeseed Mercury

Acalypha virginica L.

Euphorbiaceae (Spurge Family)

 

 

▲ seedling

 

▲ ▼ mature plants

 

▲ ▼ fall color of virginia copperleaf

 

▲ ▼ closer view of flowering stems

 

 

▲ ▼ flower bracts

 

Virginia Copperleaf: 

·        summer annual, growing 6-24” tall with upright, slightly to moderately branched stems

·        leaves are elongated to lanceolate, often coppery to reddish color in full sun, or late in summer

·        inflorescence in small clusters in the axils of the leaves, with fringed, leafy bracts between/around flowers

·        does not have milky sap

·        is very similar to rhombic copperleaf (Acalypha rhomboidea), except rhombic copperleaf has fewer lobes on its flower bracts, and often remains mostly green, with copper accents, toward the end of the growing season

·        does not have irritating hairs as does hophornbeam copperleaf