Acalypha - The Chenille Plant or Red Hot Cattail

ACALYPHA (ak-ah-ly’-fah). A genus of tropical and temperate-zone, rather weedy, herbs or shrubs of the Spurge Family. Of the many species a few are grown as greenhouse, or conservatory plants in the North and as bedding plants or hedges in the South. From these many varieties and forms have been developed that are valued for their ornamental foliage, or for the showy bracts which surround the clusters of inconspicuous flowers.

For bedding purposes, plants from 4 in. pots should be set out at the end of May. They are easily propagated by cuttings either taken from outdoor plants in the fall, from such plants taken indoors and cut back, or, in summer, from plants kept over a second year indoors. The latter method which provides well-ripened wood, is preferred. In the greenhouse the plants should be guarded against red spider, mealy bug and scale. Control Cercospora leaf spot and Rhizoctonia stem rot by sanitary measures, such as removing spotted leaves and destroying wilted plants.

Acalypha wilkesiana (Copper-leaf) is a shrub to 15 ft. with bronzy-green leaves, often variegated or margined with red, purple or copper. There are numerous varieties with variegated foliage.

Acalypha hispida (Chenille-plant or Red-hot-cattail) is a shrub of about the same size with flowers red or purple in drooping spikes 1-1/2 ft. long. Var. alba has cream-white flowers.

Acalypha godseffiana bushy and dense, has green leaves with white margin ; they are sometimes cut or ragged in appearance.

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