ABOUT THIS FLOWERING PLANT Chenille Red-Hot Cattail (acalypha hispida) – Frequently called a Chenille plant for the feathery soft red draping flower spikes. Mature plants have been known to grow up to 12 feet and spread 3 to 6 feet across. Dense, fluffy, soft vibrant red flowers in warm climates. Acalypha, a South Pacific Native, has many variations in both form and color, they will add a tropical feel any to space. The growth rate of Chenille Red-Hot Cattail will vary greatly depending on soil type, sunlight, temperature and other factors. Most leaves are often removed prior to shipping to reduce transpiration and travel stress, you’re new sunset shrub should releaf quickly. QUICK SPECS OUTDOOR Zone 10-11 PATIO Zone 4a-11 SOIL TYPE Rich Moist % SUN 80-100% POT SIZE 2x2x7″ Deep INCLUDES One Plant FLOWERING PLANT CARE Chenille Red-Hot Cattails are easy to grow, flowering plants that produce lightly scented, blooms throughout the summer. Chenille Red-Hot Cattail will grow happily and flower in a pot or in-ground. They add a tropical accent to any outdoor space, garden or patio. In cooler zones a containerized Chenille Red-Hot Cattail can be relocated indoors for the winter months. When you receive your new Chenille Red-Hot Cattail, there is no need to worry about planting right away. Your new plant can be stored for a while by simply placing it in a bucket with about a half inch of water in the bottom and moving it to a shady location, simply keep moist. This will give you plenty of time to select the ideal location for your new Chenille Red-Hot Cattail. CONTAINER SIZE All Chenille Red-Hot Cattail grow very well in containers, indoors or on the patio. Plants need enough room for growth, generally a 6″ to a 12″ round container will suffice to get started. Remember the looser the roots, the taller and healthier your Chenille Red-Hot Cattail will be. When the plant becomes root bound its growth will slow, at that point it is time for a larger pot. SOIL Chenille Red-Hot Cattail enjoy a well drained, general potting mix easily found at your local box store. Remember try to stay away from arid or wet, mucky soils. FERTILIZER To help establish your new Chenille Red-Hot Cattail, fertilize sparingly a few inches away from the base, tri-annually with a slow time released product. Unfertilized they will tend to grow at a slower pace. Note: The heavy salts in cheaper fertilizers will damage the roots and possibly kill the plant. Its best to use a brand you know and trust. GROW ZONE & LIGHT Best outdoors if grown in zone 10-11, find your zone here. This Chenille Red-Hot Cattail requires 80-100% sunlight. Depending on your location full sun is often best. In the northern end of their grow zone Chenille Red-Hot Cattail should be brought indoors or protected during the winter months. The patio zone is 4b-11 which means the potted plant will flourish over the summer months in colder zones but must be brought inside before winter. BEFORE YOU PLANT OUTDOORS At the nursery these Chenille Red-Hot Cattail are grown under 20-40% shade cloth. If you plant this Chenille Red-Hot Cattail in a brightly lit area you may experience leaf burn. It is best to acclimate this plant to its environment by keeping it outside and slowly moving it into a sunny area over a week or two to avoid stress before planting. WHAT IS THE SHIPPING SIZE All Chenille Red-Hot Cattail for sale will vary in size. In the spring, plants are often smaller than plants shipped in the fall. Plants designated with a sku ending in -4, -6 or -8 will arrive in a standard 4 inch, 6 inch or 8 inch round growers pot respectively. Our new, reusable, recyclable deep plugs are 7 or 9 inches deep and 2 or 2.5 inches in width. Products growing in these pots are easy to transplant and allow for deeper roots and faster growth, they are designated with a sku ending in -7 or -9. (Note: The item sku number can be found just below the buy button.) The color and style of these pots may vary. If we are out of a particular size item, we may ship a larger size at no additional charge. For more information, click the “best packaging” link at the bottom of this page. Note: Before leaving, Chenille Red-Hot Cattail are inspected, watered, and pruned. Larger plants, generally those that ship in 8″ pots, will be topped to 36″ or 48″ overall, depending on the variety, if necessary, to facilitate shipping. Your new plants’ pot is then bagged to ensure that the soil stays in the pot and not loose in the box. Plants are tissue or kraft paper wrapped and generally secured in place with natural biodegradable peanuts. You may want to order your Chenille Red-Hot Cattail (acalypha hispida) online now while they are in stock, supplies are limited. Zone.10a Zone.10b Zone.11a Zone.11b
