Chenille Plant Acalypha 'Mini Red'

☠ Toxic to humans

🐾 Toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

Acalypha 'Mini Red', also known as Mini Red copperleaf, is a striking ornamental plant with a bushy and compact appearance. It features a dense proliferation of leaves that create a lush, full look. The leaves of the Mini Red copperleaf are its most notable characteristic; they are vibrant and display a blend of colors. Typically, they have a dazzling red color that can also showcase hints of pink, copper, or a deep burgundy, adding to the plant's vibrant palette. The foliage often has an elongated, heart-shaped to oval form with serrated edges, giving them a somewhat lacy or fringed appearance. When the light hits the leaves, their metallic sheen is highlighted, which adds to the visual interest of the plant. In addition to its colorful foliage, this variety may produce small, inconspicuous flowers that are usually not the main attraction. Overall, the Mini Red copperleaf has a bold and colorful presence that can brighten up any garden setting, container, or landscape it's a part of.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Euphorbiaceae
- Synonyms
  Mini Red Copperleaf, Dwarf Copperleaf, Miniature Firetail
- Common names
  Acalypha 'Mini Red'
Toxicity
- To humans
  Acalypha 'Mini Red', commonly known as the Dwarf Red firetail, is not typically considered highly toxic to humans. However, like many plants, it may cause irritation if ingested, or if the sap comes into contact with skin or eyes. If any part of the plant is ingested, it may cause mild gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. It is always recommended to keep plants out of reach of small children who might chew on them.
- To pets
  Acalypha 'Mini Red', commonly known as the Dwarf Red firetail, may be toxic to pets such as dogs and cats. If a pet ingests this plant, they may experience symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, or excessive drooling. In rarer cases, there may be more severe reactions such as difficulty breathing or swallowing, although such extreme responses are less common. It is advised to keep this plant out of reach of pets to avoid any potential toxicity issues.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Evergreen
- Color of leaves
  Mixed
- Height
  1-2 feet (0.3-0.6 meters)
- Spread
  1-2 feet (0.3-0.6 meters)
- Plant type
  Shrub
- Hardiness zones
  9
- Native area
  Pacific Islands

Benefits

General Benefits
- Ornamental Value: Adds vibrant color and texture to gardens with its red foliage.
- Adaptability: Tolerates a range of soil types and conditions.
- Low Maintenance: Requires minimal care once established, making it suitable for busy gardeners.
- Drought Tolerance: Can survive in dry conditions after maturing, which reduces the need for frequent watering.
- Rapid Growth: Grows quickly, providing fast coverage or filling in garden spaces efficiently.
- Wildlife Attraction: Attracts beneficial insects and birds to the garden, promoting biodiversity.
- Compact Size: Its relatively small size makes it suitable for container gardening or small spaces.
- Year-Round Interest: Evergreen in tropical and subtropical regions, providing continuous garden interest.
Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Acalypha 'Mini Red', also known as Miniature Firetail, can be used in terrariums as its small size and colorful foliage provide visual interest and contrast to other green plants.
- As a teaching tool in botany classes to illustrate plant care, propagation, and the variety of plant forms, due to its ease of cultivation and interesting appearance.
- In landscape design, Miniature Firetail can serve as a bold edging plant in gardens due to its vibrant leaves and compact growth habit.
- This plant can be used in floral arrangements as a colorful filler, adding a unique texture and splash of color among other flowers.
- Miniature Firetail can be used in mixed container plantings to provide a pop of color and texture when combined with other plants that have contrasting foliage or flowers.
- Artists and photographers may utilize Miniature Firetail as a subject or backdrop for its striking foliage to add visual interest to their compositions.
- In macro photography, the intricate details and vibrant color of Miniature Firetail's leaves can make for compelling close-up images highlighting natural patterns and beauty.
- This plant can be incorporated in miniature fairy gardens due to its small scale and bright foliage, which can resemble a miniature fiery landscape.
- Dried leaves of the Miniature Firetail can be utilized for crafting, such as in scrapbooking or decoupage projects, offering an exotic touch to artwork.
- The Miniature Firetail's colorful leaves can be used as a natural dye source for fabric and paper, lending a reddish hue to materials.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Acalypha, or Chenille plant, is not typically associated with Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Acalypha, or Chenille plant, is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Attraction: The vibrant red leaves of the Acalypha 'Mini Red', commonly known as Chenille Plant or Red-Hot Cat's Tail, are often associated with attraction and allure, reflecting the plant's eye-catching appearance.
- Warmth: The warm red color signifies comfort, warmth, and positive energy, much like a cozy fireplace on a cold day.
- Vitality: The robust and vigorous growth of the Chenille Plant symbolizes good health, vitality, and an abundance of life force.
- Uniqueness: With its unique fuzzy flowers and bright foliage, the Chenille Plant represents individuality and the celebration of one's unique attributes.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every year

Repotting

🌱️

Spring-Early Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
Chenille Plants require moist but well-drained soil to thrive. It's best to water the plant deeply when the top inch of the soil feels dry to the touch, which may be roughly once a week, depending on the environmental conditions. Use about 16 ounces of water for smaller pots, scaling up to 1-2 gallons for larger ones every watering session to ensure the root zone is adequately moistened. In higher temperatures or during growth seasons, watering frequency may increase. Always check the soil moisture level before watering to prevent overwatering, which can lead to root rot.
Light
Chenille Plants prefer bright, indirect sunlight to flourish. They can tolerate some direct sun, but too much can scorch their leaves. The ideal spot for these plants is near a window with sheer curtains or in a well-lit room that receives plenty of natural light throughout the day. Avoid placing them in low-light conditions for prolonged periods, as this can stunt their growth and reduce the vibrancy of their foliage.
Temperature
Chenille Plants thrive in temperatures between 60°F and 75°F. They can tolerate a minimum temperature of 50°F but should be protected from cold drafts and sudden temperature drops. The ideal conditions to maintain year-round are warm and stable temperatures, avoiding extremes that could stress the plant.
Pruning
Prune Chenille Plants to maintain their shape, encourage bushier growth, and remove any dead or yellowing leaves. Pruning can be done at any time of the year but is best performed in the early spring before new growth begins. Prune lightly, cutting back no more than one-third of the plant at a time to avoid stressing the plant. Regularly snipping off spent flowers will also promote additional blooming.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
For Chenille Plant, use well-draining soil with peat, pine bark, and perlite. The soil pH should be slightly acidic to neutral, around 6.0–7.0.
Repotting
Chenille Plant should be repotted every 2-3 years, or when it outgrows its current container.
Humidity & Misting
Chenille Plant thrives best at high humidity levels, around 60% to 70%.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place Chenille Plant near bright, indirect light and maintain high humidity.
- Outdoor
  Grow in partial shade and protect from strong winds.
- Hardiness zone
  9-11 USDA
Life cycle
Acalypha 'Mini Red', commonly known as Dwarf Chenille, begins its life cycle with seed germination, ideally in warm, moist soil conditions. After germination, seedlings establish themselves with a robust root system and begin to grow their characteristic fuzzy, red flower spikes and vibrant green leaves. The juvenile stage is marked by rapid vegetative growth, as the plant busily expands in both foliage and height until maturity. During the mature phase, Dwarf Chenille continues to produce blooms, especially in warmer months, attracting pollinators and propagating through seed production if conditions permit. In perennial climates, the plant can continue to live and cycle through blooming periods for several years, while in colder climates it typically behaves as an annual and must be replanted each year. Finally, Acalypha ‘Mini Red’ completes its life cycle when it experiences environmental stress beyond its tolerance, leading to senescence and eventually, death.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring-Early Summer
- The most popular method of propagating the Acalypha 'Mini Red', commonly known as the Dwarf Chenille Plant, is through stem cuttings. To propagate, select a healthy stem that is about 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimeters) long and has several leaves. Cut the stem just below a leaf node, where the concentration of growth hormones is high. Remove the leaves from the bottom half of the cutting to prevent them from rotting when planted. Dip the cut end in rooting hormone powder to encourage root growth then plant the cutting in a pot filled with a well-draining soil mix. Water the soil gently and place the pot in a warm, brightly lit area without direct sunlight. Maintain even moisture in the soil, and roots should develop within a few weeks.