Stunning White Chenille Plant | Acalypha hispida alba (Acalypha Cat Tail White)

Common name:  Acalypha Cat Tail White, White Chenille Plant

Regional name:Bengali - Muktajhuri, Gujarati - Dadano, Kannada - Kuppigida, Malayalam - Kuppaimeni, Marathi - Khajoti, Sanskrit - Harita-manjari, Tamil - Kuppaimeni, Telugu - Kuppichettu

Category:

Shrubs, Medicinal Plants, Flowering Pot Plants

Family:

Euphorbiaceae or Poinsettia family

Light:

Sun growing, Semi shade, Shade growing

Water:

Normal, Can tolerate less

Primarily grown for:

Flowers

Flowering season:

March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October

Flower or Inflorescence color:

Red

Foliage color:

Green

Plant Height or length:

1 to 2 meters

Plant Spread or Width:

1 to 2 meters

Plant Form:

Irregular, Spherical or rounded

Special Character:

• Indigenous (native to India)
• Good for screening
• Good for Hedges and Borders
• Good for Edges ie very small hedge or border
• Attracts butterflies
• Attracts bees
• Suitable for road median planting
• Hanging or weeping growth habit
• Good on seaside
• Grows best in humid and warm regions

Generally available in India in quantities of:

Over hundreds

Plant Description:

Native to North east India, the East Indies and Burma. Grows up to 1-1.5 m tall. The leaves are shiny, a pretty shade of green and oblong in shape. A tall handsome shrub with long catkins. Spikes are 40-45 cm long. They can get to around 30 to 35 cms long. The flower is its main attraction.The plant is an immediate attention grabber. This is used as a foliage plant in Europe (cooler climates) and as a bedding and hedge plant is tropical areas.

Growing tips:

Plants prefers partial shade to protected sunny areas for healthy growth especially in very hot dry regions. In coastal areas does best in full sunlight. Plants grow well in pots. They do not like cold. Soils rich in organic matter and fertilizers are preferred. Plants should be given an annual pruning. Although they can be used as a hedge plant - it cannot make very formal and boxy hedges. The leaves are large - and frequent pruning also prunes away the young flowers. Many leaf eating bugs like this plant. Its leaves are often eaten by various insects