Acalypha hispida: Chenille Plant: FPS004/FP004, 7rev. 12/2025

Abstract

Chenille plant is a vigorous, upright, coarse-textured shrub with a height of 4 to 6 feet. Older specimens can grow taller with some support. The stems are heavily foliated with 6- to 8-inch-long ovate medium-green leaves (Figure 2). The showy red flowers of chenille plant are attractive and droop in cattail-like, narrow pendent clusters up to 18 inches in length (Figure 3). Chenille plant flowers year-round, with peak flowering season during the summer. This plant is dioecious—only the female plant produces the notable flowers; however, the plants grown and available in the horticultural trade are all female.