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Euphorbiaceae
Red Hot Cattail
Acalypha hispida
Dramatic flair and cascading abundance.
- Family
- Euphorbiaceae
- Genus
- Acalypha
- Native to
- Malaysia, Papua New Guinea
- Bloom season
- Year-Round In Tropics, Summer In Temperate
- Type
- evergreen shrub
- Height
- 100–300 cm
- Sunlight
- full sun to part shade
- Soil
- rich, moist, well-drained
- Water
- medium to high
- Hardiness
- 10–12
- Lifespan
- perennial shrub
Did you know
- The long, dangling red flower spikes can reach 50 cm, resembling fuzzy chenille pipe cleaners.
- Also called 'chenille plant' — from the French word for caterpillar, which the flower tassels resemble.
- Only female plants are commonly cultivated; males are rare and the flowers are much less showy.
- The hispid (bristly) leaves give the species its name 'hispida' but the real show is the flowers.
- In tropical gardens it can bloom continuously year-round, constantly draped in red tassels.
Color meanings
Red
dramatic passion and fiery display