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Acalypha hispida Burm.f.

Family Name:	Euphorbiaceae
Synonyms:	Acalypha sanderi
Common Name:	Chenille Plant, Red Hot Cat's Tail, Red Cattail, Ekor Kuching, Buntut Kucing, Cat's Tail

Chenille Plant (Acalypha hispida) is a tropical shrub that produces soft and furry red pendulous flowers hanging down from the leaf axils, resembling strands of yarn or cat's tail that can be as long as 45 cm! It is easy to grow to a large shrub but can be maintained as a small plant by regular pruning, best planted on the ground as accent plant or grown in elevated containers.

Full Sun

Semi Shade

Lots of Water

Moderate Water

Suitable for Hanging Baskets

Ornamental Flowers

Ornamental Leaves

Shrub

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
Common Names
Comments
Species Summary

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants)
Plant Growth Form	Shrub
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Semi-Annual / Annual-Like

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Plant Shape	Shrubby, Open
Maximum Height	1.5 m to 4.5 m
Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width	1 m to 2.5 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Malesia and New Guinea
Native Habitat	Terrestrial
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Non-native (Spontaneous (Casual))

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	Erect, rough textured shrub which is able to grow up to about 1.5 - 3.5 m tall and 1 - 2 m wide.
Foliage	Simple, alternate leaves measuring about 10 - 20 cm long and 7 - 10 cm wide.
Stems	Woody stems

Flowers	Male and female red flowers on separate plants, clustered in catkins and measuring up to 40 cm long.
Etymology	Genus name Acalypha comes from the Greek word akelpe, which means unpleasant to touch.

Landscaping Features

Desirable Plant Features	Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Foliage
Landscape Uses	Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens, Container Planting, Suitable for Hanging Baskets
Usage Hazard - Cons	Toxic Upon Ingestion

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Pollination Method(s)	Abiotic (Wind), Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Bee))
Seed or Spore Dispersal	Abiotic (Wind)

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Semi-Shade, Full Sun
Water Preference	Lots of Water, Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Moderate

Rootzone Tolerance	Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils
Soil pH Range From	6
Soil pH Range To	8
Transplanting Tolerance	Moderate
Maintenance Requirements	Moderate
Pruning	Can be pruned periodically to control its size and make the plant bushier.
Potential Problems	Spider mites, mealy bugs and scale insects may be a problem.
Propagation Method	Stem Cutting, Leaf Cutting
Planting Distance	1 m to 2 m

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Smooth

Prominent Young Flush Colour(s)	Green
Young Flush Texture(s)	Smooth
Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Alternate
Foliar Attachment to Stem	Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Ovate, Oval)
Foliar Venation	Pinnate / Net
Foliar Margin	Serrate / Toothed
Foliar Apex - Tip	Acuminate
Foliar Base	Cordate
Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio	4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot)

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Unisexual Flowers , Dioecious
Flower Colour(s)	Red

Flower Texture(s)	Velvety / Furry / Tomentose
Flower Grouping	Cluster / Inflorescence
Flower Location	Axillary
Flower Symmetry	Radial
Inflorescence Type	Catkin
Flowering Period	Free-Flowering
Flowering Habit	Polycarpic

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Master ID	290
Species ID	1586
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.