Chenille Plant Acalypha poiretii
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Chenille Plant:
- Phonetic Spelling
- ack-ah-LY-fah poy-RET-ee-eye
- Description
-
Poiret's copperleaf is a tropical annual weed native to Texas, Mexico, Central, and South America in the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae). The genus name comes from the Greek name for nettles because of the nettle-like appearance of the leaves.
This plant is considered a weed of disturbed areas and grows in full sun to partial shade in sandy and loamy soils. It will grow to 18 inches tall and spread 2-3 feet wide. The leaves and stem have white hairs and the flowers appear in short spikes during late summer into fall.
Control is best done by hand weeding and preventing the plant from setting seed.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Alba'
White - var. pendula
- 'Alba'
- 'Alba', var. pendula
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alba'
White - var. pendula
- 'Alba'
- 'Alba', var. pendula
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Acalypha
- Species:
- poiretii
- Family:
- Euphorbiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Leaf Cutting
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- TX, Mexico, Central America, South America
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 3 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Weed
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
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-
Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- The three-parted capsule has hairs.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- Bracts
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Small flowers surrounded by bracks appear in short spikes in leaf axils. The Male flowers are on the upper portion and the female flowers are on the lower portion of the spike, Blooms late summer into fall
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Oval green leaves with white hairs have serrated edges. Base is rounded and tip is acute. They are 3/4 to 1 inch long and
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Zig Zags
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- green stem with white hairs
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Landscape:
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Weedy
