Copperleaf, Delivered and Planted in Southwest Florida
Copperleaf is a fast-growing tropical shrub grown for leaves in bronze, copper and red that add color to a green bed. It does well in Southwest Florida in full sun to part shade with regular water, but frost burns it. Use it as a color hedge or a bold backdrop, trimmed to 4 to 6 ft. Our crew delivers and plants 3 gallon shrubs.
- Light:
- Full sun to part shade; richest color in sun
- Water:
- Moderate; regular water in dry spells
- Salt:
- Low; keep out of direct salt spray
Copperleaf sizes we deliver and plant
Every size below is planted by our crew, set at the right depth and watered in. Send the size and how many, and we text back a planted price, usually within the hour during the day.
| Plant | Sizes |
|---|---|
| Copperleaf | 3 Gallon |
Copperleaf in SW Florida, at a glance
- Mature size here
- 8 to 12 ft tall and 6 to 8 ft wide if left alone; easily kept at 4 to 6 ft
- Light
- Full sun to part shade; richest color in sun
- Water
- Moderate; regular water in dry spells
- Salt tolerance
- Low; keep out of direct salt spray
- Cold tolerance
- Leaves and tips burn in frost and a hard freeze can kill the top growth; protect inland plants
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Spacing
- 3 to 5 ft apart for a hedge
- Florida native
- No
- Botanical name
- Acalypha wilkesiana
Where Copperleaf works in a SW Florida yard
Copperleaf works as color, so use it with restraint. A short row along a fence, or a group of three at the back of a tropical bed, gives a bronze and copper backdrop that makes yellow flowers and green foliage stand out.
Pair it with Thryallis and Ixora, and keep it away from bright pink neighbors that fight its color. A few plants placed with care beat a long row.
- Colorful foliage hedge
- Bold backdrop shrub
- Tropical bed color
- Large container plant
How our crew plants it
Plant in full sun or part shade in well-drained soil, in a hole twice as wide as the pot, with the root ball level with the soil. Space 3 to 5 ft apart for a hedge.
Backfill with native soil, mulch and water in well. Lee and Collier allow extra watering on new plantings, and copperleaf drops leaves if it dries out.
Care after planting
- Trim several times a year in the warm season to hold it at 4 to 6 ft and keep it bushy.
- Water regularly during dry spells, since drought makes it drop lower leaves and lose color.
- Feed in spring and fall with a slow-release shrub fertilizer, not between June 1 and September 30 when nitrogen and phosphorus are banned.
- After frost, wait for warm weather before cutting back, because it often regrows from the base.
What to watch for
- Aphids, mites, whiteflies and scale are the usual pests, and they show up most in dry weather and crowded plantings.
- Frost burns the foliage, so it does better on the coast and in sheltered spots than in open inland lots.
Copperleaf questions we hear
How big does copperleaf get in Florida?+
Left alone it reaches 8 to 12 ft tall and 6 to 8 ft wide, and it grows fast. Most homeowners trim it to 4 to 6 ft. Regular pruning also keeps it bushy and the leaf color bright. If you do not want to trim often, give it room or pick a smaller shrub.
Does copperleaf need full sun?+
It grows in full sun to part shade. Leaf color is richer in sun and fades toward green in heavy shade. In all-day sun it needs regular water to keep the leaves from crisping. Morning sun with afternoon shade is a good middle ground.
Will copperleaf survive frost in Cape Coral?+
Light frost burns the leaves, and a hard freeze can kill the top growth. The plant often regrows from the base once it warms. Coastal Cape Coral and Fort Myers rarely see damage, but Lehigh Acres and North Fort Myers can. Cover plants on frost nights and wait until spring to prune.
Updated October 2026
Get a planted price on Copperleaf
Tell us what and how many. Quinten prices it from the nursery's live list and texts you back, usually within the hour during the day.
Only need the plant delivered, no planting? It is on our nursery's list at Palm & Plant Co.
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