| Description | Firetail Plant (Acalypha pendula) is a semi woody plant that produces red tassel like flowers. Cane be used to cascade out of containers. Grown as an annual in colder climates and can be brought indoors as a house plant. |
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| Pronunciation | (a-KAL-ee-fa) |
| Plant Type | Indoor Flowering Plants, Subtropical woody plants, woody vines |
| Hardiness Zone | (9)10-11 |
| Sunlight | full, mostly sunny, some shade |
| Moisture | average |
| Soil & Site | average |
| Temperature | not frost tolerant |
| Flowers | dioecious, having male and female flowers on different plants, pendulous red tassels (catkins) are made of the long styles of the female flower that lacks petals (apetalous), seems to be ever blooming |
| Leaves | bright green |
| Stems | prostate, pendulous |
| Dimensions | 15-18 inches wide, trailing |
| Maintenance | pruning to maintain shape, clean out dead leaves |
| Propagation | cuttings |
| Native Site | New Guinea, Indonesia and Malaya |
| Misc Facts | The genus name Acalypha is from the Greek akalephes ("nettle"), and was inspired by the nettle-like leave. AKA: Red hot cat tails, Firetail, Chenille plant |
| Author's Notes | I found this an easy plant to grow, outdoors during the summer. Cut back hard and bring indoors during the winter. Grow in a bright to direct light window |
| Notes & Reference | #18-House Plant Encyclopedia (Nico Vermeulen), #51-Armitage's Manual of Annuals, Biennials, and Half-Hardy Perennials (Alan Arimitage) |
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