Plant Library

Other Names:  Pringle Three-seeded Mercury, Copper Leaf

Description:

This attractive native variety displays dense, sea-green serrated leaves with wavy, hairy edges; older leaves turn pinkish or copper in summer; rose flower spikes appear in winter and spring; a stunning accent for the garden or patio containers

Ornamental Features

California Copperleaf is bathed in stunning rose catkins with white spots along the branches from mid winter to late fall. It has attractive coppery-bronze-variegated bluish-green foliage with hints of brick red which emerges light green in spring. The small serrated heart-shaped leaves are highly ornamental and remain bluish-green throughout the winter. The red stems are very effective and add winter interest.

Landscape Attributes

California Copperleaf is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a mounded form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting bees and butterflies to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

California Copperleaf is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover
• Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

California Copperleaf will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet. It has a low canopy. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years.

This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. This plant does not require much in the way of fertilizing once established. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in poor soils. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This species is native to parts of North America.

California Copperleaf makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its height, it is often used as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden. Be aware that in our climate, this plant may be too tender to survive the winter if left outdoors in a container. Contact our experts for more information on how to protect it over the winter months.