Chenille White & Red
Location
Butterfly Garden
- 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.
