Chenille plant (Acalypha hispida)

Product description

This plant has a striking inflorescence. Hundreds of brightly colored red-pink flowers grow in catkins of up to 50 cm long. This happens several times a year with many catkins at the same time, so the plant can be in bloom for a large part of the year. The species is native to southeast Asia and grows as a shrub in the rainforest with a maximum height of 4 meters. The plants are dioecious, so there are male and female plants. Male plants are much less common and have inconspicuous flowers around the stems. The pollen from those flowers is spread mainly by the wind and thus reaches the striking catkins of the female plants. 

The species does well as a houseplant, where it can also bloom easily. Provide a light position without direct sunlight and a well-drained soil. High humidity is better for growth, so you may want to water the plant regularly. It is best to water the soil as soon as it is dry. The sap of the plant is poisonous, like many species of the family Euphorbiaceae. 

Sowing description: Sow seeds on the surface of a seedbed. Cover completely with foil or glass and keep constantly lightly moist. Let them germinate on a light spot without direct sunlight at 25-30 deg C.