Virginia Copperleaf Identification and Control Strategies

Q: What is this weed in my garden?

It's Virginia copperleaf (Acalypha virginica), an annual weed.

Prevention: Apply dithiopyr pre-emergent (click for sources) in late March, mid-May, and optionally early July for heavy infestations.

Post-emergence: Broadleaf herbicide (click for sources), glyphosate (click for sources), or imazaquin (click for sources) in landscaped areas will kill it.

Key: Remove or kill before it sets seed—just weeks after germination.