Location

Butterfly Garden

​​​Chenille White and Red

​Acalypha hispida

• Common name: Chenille, Chenille Plant
• Scientific name: Acalypha hispida
  
• Family name: Euphorbiaceae
  
• Origin: Philippines
  
• Height: 5-12 ft
  
• Width: 4-6 ft
  
• Growth: Fast
  
• Zone: 10-11
  
• Light needs: Full sun
  
• Salt tolerance: Low
  
• Soil/pH/Texture: Well-drained sand, clay, or loam soil, acidic to slightly alkaline (pH 6.0-7.5)
  
• Moisture: Moderate water needs, should be watered regularly
  
• Drought tolerance: Moderate
  
• Pests/Diseases: Aphids, scales, and mites may be an issue if the plant is grown in partial shade
  
• Growing conditions: Grows best in sunny areas with well-drained soil. It is a fairly low-maintenance plant, needing only irrigation once established. The plant may need pruning after flowering to keep it from overgrowing. It can be grown in the ground or in a large container as a patio plant.
  
• Characteristics: Leaves are simple and ovate with serrated edges, alternately arranged, and may be 4 to 8 inches long. Flowers in this variety are white, but most varieties have red flowers.  The flowers grow in fuzzy, cattail-like clusters that can be up to 18 inches in length.
  
• Propagation: By cuttings
  
• Wildlife: Its dense foliage is a refuge for small animals to hide under
  
• Facts: Its species name, hispida, is a Latin word for “bristly”. This species is dioecious, meaning it has individual male and female plants; only female plants will produce seeds, while the male plants will continue to flower.
  
• Designer considerations: Its showy flowers make it a good choice for a shrub border or specimen planting. It pairs well with plants that bear white or pink flowers.​

Chenille White and Red

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