A. wilkesiana is a tropical and subtropical plant which grows naturally in Vanuatu and occurs in the Pacific Islands.

In South Florida and tropical America, copperleaf is a popular outdoor plant that provides colour throughout the year.

Elsewhere copperleaf is grown as an annual where its spectacular foliage replaces flowers from late summer until frost.

The plant is susceptible to mealy bug infection, which can result in growth retardation and also cause high fungal contaminations in in vitro studies.

To reduce the mealy bug's infection, 90% ethanol can be directly applied to the infestations using paint brushes.

Oyelami et al. (2003)[5] carried out a non-comparative study to evaluate the safety and efficiency of Acalypha wilkesiana ointment using 32 Nigerians with mycological as well as clinical evidence of mycoses.

Oyelami et al. (2003) concluded that Acalypha wilkesiana ointment can be used to treat superficial mycoses.

Akinyemi et al. (2005)[6] evaluated crude extracts from six important medicinal plants, namely Phylantus discoideus, Ageratum conyzoides, Terminalia avicennioides, Bridella ferruginea, Acalypha wilkesiana and Ocimum gratissimum, to find activity against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA.

This study provided scientific support for the use of Acalypha wilkesiana, T. avicennioides, O. gratissimum and P. discoidens against MRSA based diseases.

There is another popular member of the genus Acalypha that is grown in South Florida and in greenhouses and conservatories as well.

Dominica, Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa, Zambia, Asia, Australia, The Bahamas, Bermuda, Brazil, Fiji, Hawaii, Indochina, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Norfolk Island, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Polynesia, Tanzania, Thailand, Tonga, Uganda, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam.