interesting. reminds me of mimosa, or the flowers on our native passiflora. But can't place it. COOL !!!

send to Neil Sperry !!!

I'm Linda the lady with the mystery plant. It's been here for years.

In the same spot so it is a perennial.

I never planted anything like this out here.

It's native whatever it is and it does look like a mimosa :-)

Nope. Not mimosa.

Acalypha monostachya? 🤠

Foliage can be considerably variable.

Thank you Jay! You nailed it. Acalypha monostachya 'round copperleaf'.

Just as Linda M. reported the link says that insects are not attracted to it.

It doesn't say anything about deer, but Linda's property has a deer proof fence so maybe that has helped it be able to grow on her property.

Several nurseries sell it such as Mountain States Wholesale Nursery so it is available commercially.

Here's another photo which Linda provided. It's a beautiful little plant. I love the leaves on Linda's specimen!

Lady Bird Johnson Wild Flower Center lists it on their site.

I believe I saw it growing years ago at the San Antonio location of the Antique Rose Emporium. The foliage was more copper color on their plant.

I found the photo! As Jay mentioned the foliage varies considerably as well the plant having male and female flower forms. This plant from ARE is showing the male form of the flowers:

floral_uk I agree, but don't know what grower might be interested.

Search on Acalypha propagation and try it yourself.

tj

I meant for yourself, not for a grower. It looks eminently garden worthy and extremely well adapted for your region.

Oh okay. Yes, I have asked Linda to poke around and see if there are any roots that look like they could easily be separated in winter.

But I also think hers is a prettier plant than what is offered on Mountain States Wholesale.

A cutting may be a safer way of propagation.

tj

Linda contacted the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center and received this reply:

~ ~ ~

"Hi Linda,

"Oh, I really like your part of Texas! I'm fascinated with the flora and ecology of those sand hills. My wife and I were just visiting your area yesterday.

"I'm very pleased to hear about your success with re-establishing native flora in your deer-exclusion area.

"Your mystery plant is Cardinal-feather, Acalypha radians. That species, a member of the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, is dioecious. That is, it bears only either male or female flowers on a single plant. The flowers on your specimen are pistillate, and so your plant is a female. Perhaps you will find a lot of seedlings around the plant next year! It is a nice, healthy specimen for sure. Cardinal-feather native throughout South Texas and into northern Mexico."

Best,

Joe

"Joe Marcus

NPONA Program Coordinator

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

The University of Texas at Austin

o:512.232.0108 | wildflower.org

Inspiring the conservation of native plants"

~ ~ ~

Cardinal-feather, Acalypha radians. is a little different than Acalypha monostachya 'round copperleaf' that LBJ Wildflower Center also has listed on their site, but Jay's ID is certainly in the ball park! The big difference seems to be that 'Radians' has the scalloped leaves that Linda's plant exhibits.

My question now: Even though Mr. Joe Marcus suggests that Linda might find seedlings around her female plant; would it in fact be fertile IF there were no male plants in the vicinity? Hopefully there is a male plant near by, but not in view.

Thanks to everyone for your input. Much appreciated.

Of the several photos of A. radians. on the LBJWC site only one is of the female flower. Perhaps the male flowers are considered more showy.

Another photo of Linda's plant:

Aha! So the leaves were understandably atypical, since it’s a different species. 🙂 Thanks for the update.

very cool!

I had looked this thread up yesterday as I remembered the leaves being somewhat similar to the weedy plant you were inquiring about, especially since your soil is sandy like Linda's.