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.

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

PLANT CARE AND PROPAGATION

Light Preference : Semi-Shade, Full Sun

Water Preference : Lots of Water, Moderate Water

Plant Growth Rate : Moderate