Acalypha hispida aka Red Hot Cat's Tail

Taxonomy

Genus Acalypha Family Euphorbiaceae Order Malpighiales Class Magnoliopsida Phylum Tracheophyta
Acalypha hispida, also known as the chenille plant, is an evergreen shrub belonging to the Euphorbiaceae family. It is a member of the Acalyphinae subfamily and the Acalypha genus, which is the fourth largest genus in the Euphorbiaceae family and includes various plants native to Hawaii and Oceania. This shrub grows upright and can reach a height of 2.5m, featuring large ovate leaves and pendulous fluffy red catkin-like flowerheads that can grow up to 45cm in length. These flowers bloom sporadically throughout the year. The chenille plant gets its name from the French word for caterpillar, and its crimson accents add textural interest to sunny flower gardens or homegrown bouquets. While the foliage of the chenille plant is unremarkable, its fuzzy red flowers steal the show. The flowers themselves consist of a row of pistils, but the fuzzy catkins they form provide visual and tactile enjoyment. These catkins can resemble plump fuzz balls and can grow pendulous, reaching lengths of up to 18 inches. Chenille plants are often grown in containers in non-tropical regions and can be brought indoors during winter. They can also be cultivated year-round as houseplants. In zones 9 and 10, where they are perennial, it is best to plant them in the spring. Overall, Acalypha hispida is a fascinating flowering shrub that adds beauty and texture to gardens and indoor spaces.

Common names

Red Hot Cat's Tail, Philippine Medusa, Bristly Copperleaf

How to care for Red Hot Cat's Tail

Difficulty

If you're looking for a plant that offers a moderate level of challenge, Red Hot Cat's Tail is a great choice to test your gardening skills.

Water

Red Hot Cat's Tail should be watered regularly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.

Soil

Red Hot Cat's Tail loves a well-draining soil. Perlite and vermiculite help with drainage, while coco coir adds organic matter, so a good potting soil mix will have all three. You can improve store-bought soil by adding some perlite to it.

Lighting

To ensure optimal growth, the Red Hot Cat's Tail prefers bright indirect light for 6-8 hours each day. Insufficient light can result in slow growth and leaf drop, so it's important to find a well-lit location for this plant. Place it near a window, within a distance of 1 meter (3 feet), to enhance its potential for thriving.

Cat approves this plant

Toxicity

Red Hot Cat's Tail is not known to cause harm to humans or pets.

Fertilizer

Repotting the Red Hot Cat's Tail should be done either when it has doubled in size or on a yearly basis, whichever occurs sooner. Fresh potting soil with all the required nutrients, refreshed annually, will provide the plant with all the necessary sustenance, making the use of fertilizer unnecessary. Keep in mind that plants receive their energy from the sun, not fertilizer.

Growth-pattern

New growth will sprout from the top of the Red Hot Cat's Tail as it grows vertically.

More info:
Wikipedia

More Species in Acalypha Genus

Acalypha aristata Field Copperleaf

Acalypha persimilis Hornbeam Copperleaf

Acalypha pendula

Acalypha chamaedrifolia Bastard Copperleaf

Acalypha californica California Copperleaf

Acalypha indica Indian Acalypha

Acalypha monococca Slender Threeseed Mercury

Acalypha australis Asian Copperleaf

Acalypha hispida Red Hot Cat's Tail

Acalypha wilkesiana Copper Leaf