Chenille plant
Acalypha hispida
Also called Red hot cat's tail and Foxtail
Houseplant · FloweringCut the tails off as they brown at the tip and it keeps making more. Left on, they mould and the plant stops.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Hard
- Water
- Every 4 daysDrench and drain — water the whole surface until it runs from the holes.
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Feed
- Every 21 days
- Humidity
- Very high
- Hardiness
- Indoors, or out in high summer RHS H1B, to 10°C
- Size
- 1.5 m tall · 1 m across
- Lifecycle
- Shrub
- Origin
- New Guinea and Malaysia
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsToxic to pets
Affects dogs, cats, horses. Signs: drooling, vomiting and diarrhoea.
PeopleIrritates skin
HandlingTake care handling it
A spurge relative — the cut sap can irritate skin.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-07-31.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
First signs of trouble
- The leaves go dull and sandy-speckled and fine webbing appears where a catkin joins the stem.Glasshouse red spider mite · pest