GardenWizzPlant Care Card

Chenille Plant

Acalypha hispida · Shrub

Hardiness

H1 Under glass (to above 5°C)

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Height × Spread

1–2.5 m × 91–183 cm

Soil

Moist but well-drained; fertile, humus-rich; loose potting soil rich in organic matter and sand; peat-free potting compost

Flowering

January–December

Toxicity

Clear latex is poisonous and can irritate skin and mucous membranes

The Gardening Year

🪴 Plant out

🌸 In flower

Glasshouse whitefly: Use yellow sticky traps to monitor adults and treat infestations with insecticidal soap or biological controls.

Glasshouse red spider mite: Increase humidity around the plant and spray with a horticultural oil or miticide if infestation is severe.

Mealybugs: Wipe off visible bugs with a cotton bud dipped in methylated spirits and apply systemic insecticide if needed.

Scale insects: Scrape off scales manually or treat with a systemic insecticide applied as a soil drench.

Root rot: Ensure pots have good drainage and water sparingly during the dormant winter period.