Alphabetical Plant Listing

Acalypha hispida (Chenille Plant)

Red-Hot Cat's Tail, Chenille Plant, Monkey Tail, Acalypha sanderi, Acalypha sanderiana


Acalypha hispida (Chenille Plant) is a striking, erect evergreen shrub noted for its unusual and eye-catching, long tassel-like racemes, up to 2 ft. (60 cm), of bright red to deep pink flowers. Free-flowering, the blossoms are produced sporadically throughout the year. They stand out against the foliage of large, medium green, ovate leaves, 6-8 in. long (15-20 cm). Wonderfully exotic, Chenille Plant features an upright, dense and bushy habit. Thriving in hot, humid summer climates, it makes a great accent, hedge or specimen in tropical or subtropical gardens. Vigorous and easy to grow, it can be grown in containers, hanging baskets, as a houseplant or seasonal annual elsewhere.

  • Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society.
  • Grows up to 4-6 ft. tall (120-180 cm) and 6-8 ft. wide (180-240 cm).
  • Performs best in full sun to part shade, in fertile, humus-rich, moist, well-drained soils. If grown indoors, plant in a loam-less potting compost in full or filtered light.
  • Water freely and apply a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly during the growing season. Let the soil dry slightly between waterings. Water sparingly in winter, keeping barely moist.
  • Deadhead the flower clusters before they fade completely to stimulate rebloom. Prune to produce more compact growth and more flowers.
  • Generally disease free. Keep an eye our for glasshouse whitefly, glasshouse red spider mite, mealybugs and scale insects.
  • Propagate by softwood cuttings in early spring or semi-hardwood cuttings in late summer. Bottom heat will be required.
  • Native to New Guinea, Malaysia.

 

Buy Acalypha hispida (Chenille Plant)

Requirements

Hardiness 10 – 11
Heat Zones 6 – 11
Climate Zones 24, H2
Plant Type Shrubs
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 4' – 6' (120cm – 180cm)
Spread 6' – 8' (180cm – 240cm)
Spacing 72" – 96" (180cm – 240cm)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Plant of Merit, Showy, Evergreen
Tolerance Clay Soil
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Patio and Containers

Buy Plants


Shutterstock

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.


Requirements

Hardiness 10 – 11
Heat Zones 6 – 11
Climate Zones 24, H2
Plant Type Shrubs
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 4' – 6' (120cm – 180cm)
Spread 6' – 8' (180cm – 240cm)
Spacing 72" – 96" (180cm – 240cm)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Plant of Merit, Showy, Evergreen
Tolerance Clay Soil
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Patio and Containers

Plant Calculator

How many Acalypha hispida (Chenille Plant) do I need for my garden?

%
ft
ft

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Acalypha hispida (Chenille Plant)

Find your Hardiness Zone

Find your Climate Zone

Find your Heat Zone

Join Gardenia.net

Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

Join now and start creating your dream garden!

Create a New Collection

Optional. For your reference.


Move Selected Plants to a Different Collection


Delete Collection

This field is required.

Rename Collection

This field is required.